title: Toxoplasma gondii in ruminant species (cattle, sheep, and goats) from southern Spain.
abstract: Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were assessed with the use of a commercial indirect ELISA in 1,501 domestic ruminants in southern Spain. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 420 (83.3%) of 504 cattle, 248 (49.3%) of 503 sheep, and 124 (25.1%) of 494 goats. The herd seroprevalence was 100% (72/72), 84.7% (61/72), and 72.2% (52/72) for cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. Seropositivity was significantly higher in herds with a low density of animals (P < 0.001). Significant differences (P < 0.05) among municipalities were also found. The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates a widespread exposure to T. gondii in livestock in southern Spain.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Agrifood Excellence International Campus, ceiA3, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Bocanegra
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cabezón
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cruz
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Martínez-Moreno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Moreno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006041:Goats; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan