Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and risk factors in domestic sheep in Henan province, central China.

Nian Zhang,Shiguo Liu,Haizhu Zhang,Qing Xie,Chaoying Li,Dong Wang,Zhijun Yao,Zhenchao Zhang,Shuai Wang,Tingting Li

doi:10.1051/parasite/2016064

Nian Zhang, Shiguo Liu + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2016064

Copy DOI

Abstract

Sheep are highly susceptible to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and play a major role in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans. In the present study, 779 serum samples from sheep were collected from Henan province, central China from March 2015 to May 2016, and antibodies to T. gondii were detected by modified agglutination test (MAT). The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep was 12.71% (99/779). The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were the geographical origin, age, presence of cats, and the rearing system. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in sheep in Henan province, central China, and of an association of seropositivity to T. gondii with risk factors.

Highlights

Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan parasite found worldwide that potentially infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals, birds, and humans [9, 19, 39]
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep, and to identify certain risk factors associated with the prevalence of T. gondii infection in Henan province, central China
The modified agglutination test (MAT) is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of T. gondii antibodies in a wide range of host species, and is simple, rapid, and of relatively low cost compared to other serological tests [5, 12, 13, 28]

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan parasite found worldwide that potentially infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals, birds, and humans [9, 19, 39]. It has been estimated that up to one third of the world’s human population has been infected by T. gondii [38, 40]. Mainly by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat or from food or drink contaminated with oocysts shed in cat feces [22, 34]. Ingestion of poorly cooked meat from sheep, and possibly consumption of non-pasteurized contaminated milk from sheep are considered important sources of transmission of T. gondii to humans [4, 7, 18, 21, 27]. People in Henan province have the habit of eating undercooked ‘‘barbecue’’, ‘‘kabob’’, and ‘‘instantly boiled mutton’’, leading to an increased risk of human toxoplasmosis

Objectives

Methods

Results