Sero-epidemiological update on sheep toxoplasmosis in Sardinia, Italy.
In order to better understand the epidemiology of ovine toxoplasmosis in Sardinia, a serological survey was carried out on 22 flocks with no fertility problems. In total 1043 sera (9% of the 11,382 sheep raised in the flocks) were examined by means of a commercial ELISA kit. To verify the performance of ELISA test, 160 selected sera were tested again with a gold standard test (IFAT). Performance of the commercial ELISA kit was summarised in terms of Sensitivity (SE), Specificity (SP), positive and negative Likelihood Ratios (LR+; LR-). The overall seroprevalence with ELISA test was recorded as 51.3%. It was generally increasing according to age and was significantly lower in animals younger than one year (with the exception of < 1 month old lambs). This survey provided data on the current Toxoplasma gondii sheep seroprevalence in Sardinia, confirmed a still high parasite pressure and pointed out that consumption of raw or undercooked ovine meat can be considered a potential risk factor for humans.
Natale
A
A
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy. anatale@izsvenezie.it
Porqueddu
M
M
Capelli
G
G
Mocci
G
G
Marras
A
A
Sanna Coccone
G N
GN
Garippa
G
G
Scala
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan