title: Seroepidemiological study of caprine toxoplasmosis in East and West Shewa Zones, Oromia Regional State, Central Ethiopia.
abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular apicomplexan parasite. The objectives of this study were to estimate the animal and flock level seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in goats of Central Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, goats are economically important animals used for meat and milk production. The study was cross-sectional and 927 blood samples from 187 goat flocks were collected to examine T. gondii specific IgG antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A questionnaire was used to collect data on the potential risk factors. The study revealed flock and animal level seroprevalence of 58.3% (109/187; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.16, 65.42) and 19.7% (183/927; 95% CI: 17.17, 22.31), respectively. The likelihood of acquiring T. gondii infection was higher in semi-intensively managed goats (Odds ratio [OR]=2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14, 5.37; P=0.022) than in extensively managed goats, in females than in males (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.92; P=0.010), in adults than in young animals (OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.28; P=0.006), in small than in large flocks (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.98; P=0.040), in goats kept under sedentary (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.41, 5.59; P=0.003) and agropastoral farming system (OR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.83, 7.18; P<0.001) than pastoral farming system and in goats allowed to drink water from the tap than those drinking from river and stagnant water bodies (OR=9.25, 95% CI: 3.04, 28.15; P<0.001). Our study indicates that exposure of goats to oocysts of T. gondii is widespread. We recommend further studies to determine the genotype of the parasite, public health and economic impacts of toxoplasmosis and the role of raw goat meat and milk as a source of infection for consumers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Ambo University, PO Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia. endriaszewdu2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Endrias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zewdu
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agonafir
authors.forename: Tesfaye Sisay
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tessema
authors.forename: Getachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.forename: Girmay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medhin
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marco
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorny
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006041:Goats / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*