Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Dairy Camels from the Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are important causes of reproductive failure in humans and animals resulting in significant socio-economic losses worldwide. In addition to its importance as food animals for most of the rural areas in the Sudan, camels are recently introduced as dairy animals in some semi-intensive farms in the Khartoum State. The aim of this study was to avail data-regarding the sero-prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infection in camels raised for milk production in the Khartoum State. Two large dairy camel�s farms in Eastern Nile and Bahri localities were sampled as well as the co-herded camels with dairy cows in dairy cattle farms in the State. A total of 61 dairy she-camels sera were collected from 13 dairy herds and examined for the evidence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies using the commercially available Latex Agglutination Diagnostic kits (LAT) and competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The study revealed that, the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infection in dairy camels at herd level was 76.9% (10/13 herds) and 38.5% (5/13 herds) respectively. Their seroprevalence at individual level was 54.1% (33/61 She-camels) and 9.8% (6/61 She-camels). Interestingly, 9.09% (3/33) of the T. gondii seropositive camels showed mix-infection with N. caninum. Approximately, 50% of the seropositive camels (16/33) reported an anti-T. gondii antibody titration of more than 1:8, and the highest level of antibody titration reported in the present study was 1:32. Interestingly, camels were found to be relatively similar to cattle in the occurrence of N. caninum infection in this study, with percent inhibition ranging from 30% to 74%. Generally, this is the first serological evidence of N. caninum in Sudanese camels. The study concluded that camels in the Sudan are widely exposed to T. gondii and N. caninum. Moreover, it is the first report on mix-infection of the two parasites in camels. Thus, based on the Sudanese feeding habitat of camel products, people in the Sudan should be aware of the possibility of hyper-prevalence of human toxoplasmosis through this important food animal. Research on clinical toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in Sudanese camels is recommended to evaluate the role of these parasitic abortifacients in the economical losses in camels industry and for building strategy of sustainable camel management and control.