Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis that causes significant economic losses due to abortions and other developmental disabilities in livestock animals. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nisar Ahmad, Mazhar Qayyum
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2014-08-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/4405
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850193566867914752
author Nisar Ahmad
Mazhar Qayyum
author_facet Nisar Ahmad
Mazhar Qayyum
author_sort Nisar Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis that causes significant economic losses due to abortions and other developmental disabilities in livestock animals. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle and buffaloes in northern parts of Punjab, Pakistan, where no such work previously existed. Methodology:Serum samples obtained from 400 cattle and 422 buffaloes present on different private and government-owned farms were tested for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additional data, including water sources, hygienic status at the farm, management practices, size of the herd, and presence of cats in the vicinity of the farm were obtained using a questionnaire in surveys and interviews. Results: The overall prevalence of infection was 19.75% (79/400) in cattle and 15.16% (64/422) in buffaloes. IgG antibodies were found in 75 (18.75%) cattle and 58 (13.74%) buffaloes, while IgM antibodies were found in 9 (2.25%) cattle and 10 (2.37%) buffaloes. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in females and older animals of both species. Seroprevalence was found to be associated with poor hygienic conditions, extensive management practices, and presence of cats in the surrounding areas. No difference of seroprevalence was observed with respect to different breeds, location, water source, and herd size. Conclusion: The present study found that T. gondii is prevalent in large ruminants in northern Punjab, and may have important implications for the livestock industry and public health.
format Article
id doaj-art-dad1b15ffeec469385e5009a6fa3ab89
institution OA Journals
issn 1972-2680
language English
publishDate 2014-08-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-dad1b15ffeec469385e5009a6fa3ab892025-08-20T02:14:15ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-08-0180810.3855/jidc.4405Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, PakistanNisar Ahmad0Mazhar Qayyum1Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, PakistanPir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, PakistanIntroduction: Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis that causes significant economic losses due to abortions and other developmental disabilities in livestock animals. The objectives of the current study were to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle and buffaloes in northern parts of Punjab, Pakistan, where no such work previously existed. Methodology:Serum samples obtained from 400 cattle and 422 buffaloes present on different private and government-owned farms were tested for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additional data, including water sources, hygienic status at the farm, management practices, size of the herd, and presence of cats in the vicinity of the farm were obtained using a questionnaire in surveys and interviews. Results: The overall prevalence of infection was 19.75% (79/400) in cattle and 15.16% (64/422) in buffaloes. IgG antibodies were found in 75 (18.75%) cattle and 58 (13.74%) buffaloes, while IgM antibodies were found in 9 (2.25%) cattle and 10 (2.37%) buffaloes. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in females and older animals of both species. Seroprevalence was found to be associated with poor hygienic conditions, extensive management practices, and presence of cats in the surrounding areas. No difference of seroprevalence was observed with respect to different breeds, location, water source, and herd size. Conclusion: The present study found that T. gondii is prevalent in large ruminants in northern Punjab, and may have important implications for the livestock industry and public health. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/4405Toxoplasma gondiicattlebuffaloesPunjabPakistanIgG
spellingShingle Nisar Ahmad
Mazhar Qayyum
Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Toxoplasma gondii
cattle
buffaloes
Punjab
Pakistan
IgG
title Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
title_full Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
title_fullStr Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
title_short Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern Punjab, Pakistan
title_sort seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in large ruminants in northern punjab pakistan
topic Toxoplasma gondii
cattle
buffaloes
Punjab
Pakistan
IgG
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/4405
work_keys_str_mv AT nisarahmad seroprevalenceandriskfactorsfortoxoplasmosisinlargeruminantsinnorthernpunjabpakistan
AT mazharqayyum seroprevalenceandriskfactorsfortoxoplasmosisinlargeruminantsinnorthernpunjabpakistan