title: Toxoplasma gondii infection in dairy ewes: Vertical transmission and influence on milk production and reproductive performance.
abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate the transmission of toxoplasmosis (vertical and venereal) and its influence on milk production and reproductive problems of Lacaune sheep seropositives for Toxoplasma gondii. Males and females were serologically selected using indirect immunofluorescence method in three steps of the study. Step 1: In order to evaluate the influence of toxoplasmosis on milk production, the volume of milk produced by 40 sheep (22 seronegatives and 18 seropositives for T. gondii) was weekly measured throughout the lactation period. There were no significant differences between these two groups; in other words, toxoplasmosis did not affect milk production. Step 2: In order to assess T. gondii venereal transmission, five samples of semen from seropositive rams (n = 5) were tested by endpoint and real time PCR with two days of interval; however, these semen samples were PCR negatives for T. gondii. Step 3: To evaluate reproductive problems, 12 seropositive animals out of a flock of 68 pregnant ewes showed signs of reproductive problems, such as abortion or fetal resorption. T. gondii transplacental transmission was evaluated on blood drawn from newborn lambs (n = 41), and their respective seropositive mothers (n = 30) after single, double or triple births. Serological tests showed that 65.8% of the lambs had antibodies against this protozoan, indicating a high transmission from ewe to fetus during pregnancy. Therefore, it is concluded that toxoplasmosis in sheep may impair reproduction with a high percentage of vertical transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanderlei
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klauck
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pazinato
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Willian M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Radavelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edimar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfredo S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cezar
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina - Campus II, Xanxerê, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tonin
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lenita M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, UDESC Oeste, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Chapecó, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen / Q000469:parasitology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Reproductive problems; Sheep; Toxoplasmosis