Seroprevalence of sheep toxoplasmosis in north of Iran

Toxoplasma gondii is cosmopolitan protozoa infecting many warm-blooded animals including sheep. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii from sheep using Indirect Fluorescent Antibody method (IFA) in Golestan Province, north of Iran. Sera samples of 764 sheep (650 female and 114 male) were obtained from Golestan Province, north of Iran in 2013. The sera were examined for T. gondii antibody (IgG) by IFA, an antibody titer of 1:100 or higher considered as positive. The statistical analysis was performed by chi-square test and logistic regressions were used to analyze the influence of all examined factor (age and sex) on seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis. The antibody titers in positive animals ranged from 1:100-1:1600.The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in examined sera of sheep was 28.2%. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in female sheep (29.5%) was higher than male (21%) sheep. With increase in years of age, prevalence of toxoplasmosis raised. No statistically significant difference was observed between male & female sheep and there was relationship between seropositivity and age. High level of Toxoplasma infection in examined sheep showed a widespread exposure to T. gondii in Golestan Province and revealed high risk of acquiring toxoplasmosis by consumption of raw and undercooked meat of sheep in human population of this region.