Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Ambo University, P O Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
BMC Vet Res. 2013 Jun 15;9:117. doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-117.
Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed zoonosis. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat, which is among the main risk factors for acquiring human infection, is a popular tradition in Ethiopia. However, studies on toxoplasmosis in food animals used for human consumption in Ethiopia are very scarce. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to estimate the seroprevalence and the risk factors of T. gondii infection in sheep in Ambo, Ada'a-Liben and Fentale districts of Central Ethiopia. Sera from 1130 sheep were analyzed for Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG antibodies using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the P30 antigen. A questionnaire was administered to assess potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity. Association of seroprevalence with potential risk factors related to altitude, host and farm characteristics were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression.
Overall flock and animal level seroprevalences were 70.48% (160/227; 95% CI: 64.51, 76.46) and 31.59% (357/1130; 95% CI: 28.88, 34.31), respectively. The multivariable logistic regression model indicated that the probability of acquiring T. gondii was higher in sheep from highland (2300 - 3200 meters above sea level) [Odds ratio (OR) = 4.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.65, 6.36; P < 0.001] and midland (OR = 4.54, 95% CI: 2.76, 7.49; P < 0.001) than from lowland (<1500 meters above sea level), in females than in males (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.43, P = 0.033), in adult than in young animals (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.97, 4.35, P < 0.001), in small than in large flocks (OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.26, 8.86, P = 0.016), and in sheep that were given tap water (OR = 4.07, 95% CI: 1.07, 15.42, P = 0.039) and river water (OR = 4.18, 95% CI: 1.54, 11.35, P = 0.005) than in those that drunk water from mixed sources (i.e., river, well, lake and pond).
The high flock and animal level seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep is a good marker of the potential risk for human infections. Altitude, sex, age, flock size and source of water were identified as important risk factors to acquire the infection. Public education and awareness training are imperative in order to alleviate the danger posed to consumers. Further detailed studies to assess the impact of infections are warranted.
弓形虫病是一种分布广泛的人畜共患病。食用生肉或未煮熟的肉是感染人类的主要危险因素之一，这在埃塞俄比亚是一种流行的传统。然而，关于埃塞俄比亚用于人类消费的食品动物中的弓形虫病的研究非常有限。因此，本研究的目的是评估中埃塞俄比亚安博、阿达阿-利本和芬塔莱地区绵羊的弓形虫感染血清流行率和危险因素。使用间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）用 P30 抗原分析了 1130 只绵羊的血清中的弓形虫特异性 IgG 抗体。为了评估 T. gondii 血清阳性与潜在危险因素之间的关联，我们采用单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析了与海拔、宿主和农场特征相关的血清流行率。
总体羊群和动物水平的血清流行率分别为 70.48%（160/227；95%置信区间：64.51，76.46）和 31.59%（357/1130；95%置信区间：28.88，34.31）。多变量逻辑回归模型表明，在高海拔（2300-3200 米）地区的绵羊中，获得 T. gondii 的概率更高[比值比（OR）=4.11，95%置信区间（CI）：2.65，6.36；P<0.001]和中海拔（OR=4.54，95%CI：2.76，7.49；P<0.001）地区比低海拔（<1500 米）地区，在雌性中比在雄性中（OR=1.60，95%CI：1.04，2.43，P=0.033），在成年动物中比在幼小动物中（OR=2.93，95%CI：1.97，4.35，P<0.001），在小群体中比在大群体中（OR=3.34，95%CI：1.26，8.86，P=0.016），在饮用自来水（OR=4.07，95%CI：1.07，15.42，P=0.039）和河水（OR=4.18，95%CI：1.54，11.35，P=0.005）的绵羊中比在饮用混合水源（即河流、水井、湖泊和池塘）的绵羊中更容易获得感染。
绵羊中弓形虫病的高羊群和动物水平血清流行率是人类感染潜在风险的良好标志。海拔、性别、年龄、羊群规模和水源是获得感染的重要危险因素。为了减轻对消费者的威胁，必须进行公共教育和提高认识培训。需要进一步进行详细研究，以评估感染的影响。
