Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii in some intermediate hosts (sheep and goats) in Thi-Qar province, Southern Iraq

Authors

  • 1Ministry of Education, Baghdad Education Directorate
  • Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Thi-Qar.
  • Thi-Qar Health directorate, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32792/jeps.v12i2.205

Keywords:

Toxoplasmosis, goat and sheep, IgG, Thi-Qar province

Abstract

Iraq considers sheep and goats a significant source of meat in daily meals and during some holly
celebrations. These animals are suitable reservoir hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and play a critical role in
transmitting the parasite to humans. Thus, this study investigated the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii
infection in sheep and goats in Thi-Qar province in southern Iraq. In the study conducted from October
2020 to February 2021, two hundred eighty goat and sheep blood samples were collected from Nasiriyah
and Shatrah slaughter house. Antibodies type IgG against Toxoplasma gondii were investigated in serum
using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Furthermore, 134 (47.85%) of the 280 animals
showed signs of toxoplasmosis. The infection rate of Toxoplasma in goats and sheep was 50.69% and
44.85%, respectively. Prevalence of the antibodies for toxoplasma gondii type IgG was found to be
variant in animals regarding animals' ages and sex. The current study showed that animals with periods of
more than two years and females significantly have a higher infection rate compared to males younger
than two years.

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Published

2023-02-14