Sero-prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Sheep and Goats in El-Gadarif State

Abstract

Across-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2015 to estimate the prevalence of anti-toxopalsma antibodies in sheep and goats in El-Gadarif state. Total of 400 serum samples; 200 sheep and 200 goats, were collected and tested by Toxo-latex agglutination test and iELISA. The overall sero-prevalence was 52.0% (208/400) using Toxo-latex agglutination test. Using iELISA, 45.7% (42/92) of the sheep and 27.2% (25/92), of the goats were sero.positives. The sero-prevalences among the two investigated species and the two age groups were statistically not different, however, statistically different between localities, different breeds, and between males and females. In the univariate analysis, species (p-value=0.028) and locality (p-value=0.001) were associated with Toxo-latex agglutination test positive status. Furthermore, species (sheep) and locality (Al-Fao, Al-Hawatah, andWasat El-Gadarif) had increased odds of being Toxo-latex agglutination test positive in the multivariate analysis. It can be concluded that the prevalence of anti-toxopalsma antibodies is relatively high and there was no between-species variation in sero-positivity. These findings warrant further investigations in El-Gadarif and to evaluate burden of the disease and the existed risk to human beings.