Abstract
ObjectiveToxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, infects humans by consuming infected raw or undercooked meat and foods harboring mature oocysts. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goats coming from central Iran. After completing the questionnaire, about one gram of liver or diaphragm tissue was taken as a sample from 90 sheep and 90 goats slaughtered in Yazd Province and stored at – 20 ºC. DNA extraction was done, and then T. gondii was detected using nested PCR.ResultsThis study indicated that the prevalence of T. gondii in all slaughtered animals was 11.6% (21 of 180), including 14.4% (13/90) in sheep and 8.8% (8/90) in goats. The infection rates in liver and diaphragm samples were 12.2% (11/90) and 11.1% (10/90), respectively (p = 0.8163). The infection rate in animals older than one was 16.3% (15/92), and it was 6.8% (6/88) in animals under one year of age. Therefore, no significant differences were found (p = 0.475). Infection rates were 19.5% (18/92) in males and 3.4% (3/88) in females (p = 0.0007). In conclusion, the infection rates of toxoplasmosis in livestock in this area are almost high, and therefore, it is necessary to design appropriate prevention programs to control the disease.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis, as a widespread zoonotic disease worldwide, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii [1]
The sex analysis showed that 19.5% (18 of 92) of males and 3.4% (3 of 88) of females were infected with T. gondii (p = 0.0007; Table 1)
They showed that 38.2% of young sheep and 73.6% of the adult ones are infected, and using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based method, they found out that 50% of the samples from sheep tissues are HIV-positive [20]
Summary
The nested PCR showed an amplicon of 94 bp in length in 21 samples (Fig. 1). The prevalence of T. gondii in all slaughtered animals was 11.6% (21 of 180), including 14.4% (13 of 90) in sheep and 8.8% (8 of 90) in goats. The infection rate by T. gondii in liver and diaphragm samples were 12.2% (11 of 90) and 11.1% (10 of 90), respectively, which is not significant (p = 0.8163; Table 1). The analysis revealed that 16.3% (15 of 92) of the infected slaughtered animals were more than one year old, and 6.8% (6 of 88) were under one year of age. There were no significant differences between infection rate and age (p = 0.475; Table 1). The sex analysis showed that 19.5% (18 of 92) of males and 3.4% (3 of 88) of females were infected with T. gondii (p = 0.0007; Table 1)
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