title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in small ruminants in China.
abstract: Little information is available about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in sheep and goats in China. In the present investigation, the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infections in sheep and goats were investigated in Qinghai province, China between January 2012 and June 2013. A total of 1250 serum samples (600 sheep and 650 goats) collected from 8 administrative regions of Qinghai province, China were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of specific antibodies, and sera positive were subsequently confirmed with indirect fluorescent antibody test. Specific IgG against T. gondii were detected in 21.33% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.06-24.61%) (128/600) and 29.54% (95% CI: 26.03-33.05%) (192/650) and against N. caninum in 10.33% (95% CI: 7.9-12.77%) (62/600) and 7.23% (95% CI: 5.24-9.22%) (47/650) of the sheep and goats, respectively. The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence were the presence of cats and dogs, the pasturing system, the herd size, the hygiene in the farms. The results of the present survey indicate that T. gondii and N. caninum infections are highly prevalent in sheep and goats in Qinghai province, China. This is the first time that antibodies to N. caninum have been detected in sheep and goats in China.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China; National and Provincial Union Engineering Research Center for the Veterinary Herbal medicine resources and initiative, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China; Hunan Agricultural University Animal Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Liuyang 410311, China. Electronic address: lzk7035@sina.com.
authors.forename: Zi-Kui
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of CAAS, Lanzhou 730050, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Lanzhou Institute of Animal Sciences and Pharmaceutics of CAAS, Lanzhou 730050, China.
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D002415:Cats; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D018688:Neospora; D012307:Risk Factors; D012418:Ruminants; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: China; Goats; Neospora caninum; Seroprevalence; Sheep; Toxoplasma gondii