Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Ambo University, PO Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
Res Vet Sci. 2013 Feb;94(1):43-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.07.020. Epub 2012 Aug 6.
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.
弓形虫病是一种由刚地弓形虫引起的全球性动物传染病,刚地弓形虫是一种细胞内顶复门寄生虫。本研究的目的是估计埃塞俄比亚中部山羊的动物和羊群弓形虫血清流行率以及与弓形虫病相关的风险因素。在埃塞俄比亚,山羊是经济上重要的动物,用于生产肉和奶。该研究为横断面研究,共采集了 187 个山羊群的 927 份血样,通过酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测 T. gondii 特异性 IgG 抗体。使用问卷收集潜在风险因素的数据。研究显示,羊群和动物的血清流行率分别为 58.3%(109/187;95%置信区间[CI]:51.16,65.42)和 19.7%(183/927;95%CI:17.17,22.31)。与广泛管理的山羊相比,半集约化管理的山羊感染 T. gondii 的可能性更高(优势比[OR]=2.48,95%置信区间[CI]:1.14,5.37;P=0.022),雌性比雄性(OR=1.84,95%CI:1.16,2.92;P=0.010),成年动物比幼小动物(OR=2.00,95%CI:1.21,3.28;P=0.006),小群比大群(OR=2.03,95%CI:1.03,3.98;P=0.040),与游牧系统相比,在定居(OR=2.81,95%CI:1.41,5.59;P=0.003)和农牧混合系统(OR=3.62,95%CI:1.83,7.18;P<0.001)中饲养的山羊和允许饮用自来水的山羊比饮用河水和死水的山羊感染的可能性更高(OR=9.25,95%CI:3.04,28.15;P<0.001)。我们的研究表明,山羊接触刚地弓形虫卵囊的情况很普遍。我们建议进一步研究确定寄生虫的基因型、弓形虫病的公共卫生和经济影响,以及生羊肉和羊奶作为消费者感染源的作用。