Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats and sheep in Zimbabwe.
Seroprevalence rates of Toxoplasma gondii anti-antibodies in adult goats and sheep from different parts of Zimbabwe were determined. A total of 225 (67.9%) of the 335 serum samples tested were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies with the indirect fluorescent antibody test. There were differences in antibody seroprevalences among communal land goats from the different agro-ecological zones (Natural regions llb and III: 80 and 96.7%, respectively; Natural region IV: 65.9%; Natural region V: 45%; and Natural region III had a significantly higher seroprevalence than IV and V. The highest seroprevalences found in Natural regions II b and Ill are likely to be linked to the existence of more households and hence the possibility of a higher concentration of domestic cats that increases the chances of environmental contamination with their faeces harbouring T. gondii oocysts. The seroprevalence rate in sheep from a large commercial farm (10%) was significantly lower than that of sheep reared under the communal grazing system (80%). Overall, significantly higher proportions of seropositive animals had antibody titres of 1:50 (34.2% of 225) and 1:100 (44% of 225) as compared to the 9.8% and 12% with antibody titres of 1:200 and > or =1:400, respectively.
Parasitology Section, Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. thove@vet.uz.ac.zw
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D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan