Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and brucella abortus in dairy animals from the Sudan: special emphasis to their serological co-existence

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis and brucellosis are the most common zoonotic food borne diseases worldwide. The abortion caused by these agents is one of the major causes of socio-economic losses in human and livestock. We thus conducted a cross-sectional study during October 2012 to April 2014 to determine the seroprevalence and the co-existence of Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella abortus in dairy cattle and the co-herded camels, sheep and goats in the Khartoum State using different serological techniques. The study revealed over all seroprevalence of 94.9% at herd level and 63.2% at individual level. T. gondii and B. abortus seroprevalence were 46.2% and 22.7% respectively. Seroprevalence of these zoonosis showed highly statistically significant (p 0.05) associations were observed in the multivariate analysis of districts and animals species (odds=2.588, CI 95%) for cattle and (odds=2.200, CI 95%) for camels compared to goats as reference. Generally, the present results were the first comprehensive data explaining the serological co-existence of T. gondii and B. abortus as zoonotic organisms in Sudanese food animals. We came to conclude that, the exposure to these organisms as well as their co-infection may play a significant role in the economic losses in dairy farm industry in the country. Moreover, the great public health importance of T. gondii, B. abortus and their co-existence could not be neglected. Further studies to elucidate their socio-economic consequences in man and his livestock are recommended.