Jilo Kula, Tegegne Dechassa, Kasim Sadik, Dabasa Golo, Zewdei Wubishet
Veterinary Epidemiology, Addis Ababa University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box. 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Veterinary Biotechnology, Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Vet Med Int. 2021 May 18;2021:6683797. doi: 10.1155/2021/6683797. eCollection 2021.
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoan disease. Data on seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Ethiopia is scarce, almost null in the pastoral area of the Borana zone. The study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence, to identify risk factors of toxoplasmosis in sheep and goats, and to assess the awareness level of pastoralists about toxoplasmosis in the Yabello district of Borana zone, Southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 in six peasant associations of the Yabello district of Borana zone, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 400 serum samples of randomly selected small ruminants owned by pastoralists were examined to detect antibodies specific to using Latex Agglutination Test (SPINREACT, Girona, Spain). A semistructured questionnaire survey was used to conduct a face-to-face interview with owners ( = 100) of sampled flocks. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of hypothesized risk factors. The overall seroprevalence was 52.8% of which 57.8 and 47.8% were sheep and goats, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed a higher seroprevalence ratio of infection in sheep than goats (COR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.226-3.112; = 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated significantly higher odds of acquiring infection in adult animals (sheep: (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.323-3.874; = 0.003), goats: (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.009-4.579; = 0.047)), female sheep (AOR = 2.45; CI: 1.313-4.568; = 0.005), animals from lowland areas (sheep: (AOR = 2.28; CI: 1.190-4.356; = 0.013), goat: (AOR = 3.27; CI: 1.386-7.723; = 0.007)), animal drinking lake water (sheep: (AOR = 1.93; CI: 1.011-3.698; = 0.046), goat: (AOR = 2.96; CI: 1.297-6.771; = 0.010)), and goats with history of abortion (AOR = 2.42; CI: 1.242-4.711; = 0.009) than young animals, male (sheep), animals from midland areas, animals drinking wells water, and flock with no history of abortion (goat), respectively. Among respondents, 97.0% had no knowledge about toxoplasmosis and 75.0% drink raw milk and consume the meat of sheep and goats. 80.0% of respondents had no knowledge about the risk of cats to human and animal health while 70.0% of them had domestic cats and practice improper fetal body handling. Highly prevailing toxoplasmosis in small ruminants of the Yabello district might pose a serious economic loss and be a potential public health threat to the extremely vulnerable pastoralists. Therefore, awareness and further studies are warranted to tackle the economic and public health consequences of infection.
弓形虫病是一种人畜共患的原生动物疾病。埃塞俄比亚弓形虫病血清流行病学数据稀缺，在博拉纳地区的牧区几乎为零。本研究旨在确定埃塞俄比亚南部博拉纳地区亚贝洛区绵羊和山羊弓形虫病的血清流行率，识别其危险因素，并评估牧民对弓形虫病的认知水平。2016年11月至2017年4月，在埃塞俄比亚南部博拉纳地区亚贝洛区的6个农民协会开展了一项横断面研究。共检测了牧民拥有的400份随机选取的小反刍动物血清样本，采用乳胶凝集试验（西班牙赫罗纳SPINREACT公司产品）检测特异性抗体。通过半结构化问卷调查对抽样羊群的主人（n = 100）进行面对面访谈。采用逻辑回归分析确定假设危险因素之间的关联。总体血清流行率为52.8%，其中绵羊和山羊的血清流行率分别为57.8%和47.8%。单因素逻辑回归分析显示，绵羊感染弓形虫的血清流行率高于山羊（校正比值比：1.95，95%置信区间：1.226 - 3.112；P = 0.005）。多因素逻辑回归分析表明，成年动物（绵羊：调整后比值比 = 2.26，95%置信区间：（1.323 - 3.874）；P = 0.003）、雌性绵羊（调整后比值比 = 2.45；置信区间：1.313 - 4.568；P = 0.005）、来自低地地区的动物（绵羊：调整后比值比 = 2.28；置信区间：1.190 - 4.356；P = 0.013）、饮用湖水的动物（绵羊：调整后比值比 = 1.93；置信区间：1.011 - 3.698；P = 0.046）、有流产史的山羊（调整后比值比 = 2.42；置信区间：1.242 - 4.711；P = 0.009）感染弓形虫的几率分别显著高于幼年动物、雄性（绵羊）、来自中部地区的动物、饮用井水的动物以及无流产史的羊群（山羊）。在受访者中，97.0%对弓形虫病一无所知，75.0%饮用生牛奶并食用绵羊和山羊的肉。80.0%的受访者不知道猫对人类和动物健康的风险，70.0%的受访者养有家猫且胎儿尸体处理不当。亚贝洛区小反刍动物中弓形虫病的高流行率可能造成严重经济损失，并对极度脆弱的牧民构成潜在公共卫生威胁。因此，有必要提高认识并进一步开展研究以应对弓形虫感染带来的经济和公共卫生后果。
