title: Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in female cattle in south-west of Iran.
abstract: Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a significant disease in livestock and humans. In Iran, studies shows that T. gondii infection in humans is relatively high and prevalence is associated mainly with consumption of undercooked meat or meat products. We have examined 450 serum samples from female cattle distributed over all Ahvaz, the center of Khouzestan province, south-west of Iran. IgG antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test using whole tachyzoites of T. gondii, and found in 71 (15.77%) of 450 cattle with titers of 1:25 in 38, 1:50 in 18, 1:100 in 11, 1:200 in three and 1:400 in one. Titers of antibodies were decreased in cattle over 2 years old. These results indicate that T. gondii infection in cattle of Khouzestan is relatively considerable, but not very high and consumption of beef may be a source of infection for humans in south-west of Iran.
authors: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. hamidinejat@yahoo.com
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Hamidinejat
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Ghorbanpour
authors: Leily
authors: L
authors: Nabavi
authors: Mohammad Rahim
authors: MR
authors: Haji Hajikolaie
authors: Mohammad Hossein
authors: MH
authors: Razi Jalali
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan