Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in Grosseto district, Tuscany, Italy

BMC Veterinary Research

Peter N Thompson¹  Valentina Cambiotti³  Iolanda Moretta³  Fabrizia Veronesi³  Paola Sechi³  Antonio Ciampelli²  Beniamino T Cenci-Goga³ 

[1] Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa;Veterinary practitioner, Tuscany, Italy;Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via San Costanzo, 06121, Perugia, Italy

关键词: Risk factors;    IFAT;    Intra-cluster correlation coefficient;    Prevalence;    Sheep;    Toxoplasmosis;   

Others  :  1119613
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-6148-9-25

 received in 2012-09-05, accepted in 2013-01-30,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Serum samples from 630 milk sheep, in 33 dairy flocks representative of the southern area of the Tuscany region, were tested for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Questionnaires exploring the management system were completed by the veterinarian in charge of the flocks.

Results

At least one seropositive animal was found in 32 of the 33 flocks tested (97.0%; 95% CI: 84.2%, 99.9%). In the positive flocks, median seroprevalence was 29.4% (interquartile range: 15.9%-46.1%). Overall animal-level seroprevalence, adjusted for sampling weights and test sensitivity and specificity, was 33.3% (95% CI: 24.8%, 42.7%). In a multivariable negative binomial regression model the number of seropositive animals in a flock decreased with increasing flock size (for >400 vs. <300 animals: count ratio (CR) = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.95; P = 0.028) and was greater on farms where stray cats had access to animals’ water (CR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.26; P = 0.027).

Conclusions

Small flock size and access of cats to water are potential risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in sheep in the Grosseto district in Tuscany, Italy. Sheep could be an important source of T. gondii infection in humans, since we estimate that between 25% and 43% of sheep in the district were seropositive. Toxoplasmosis is also likely to be an important cause of abortion in sheep in the district. Control and prophylactic measures must be adopted to improve the rearing system and the implementation of health promoting programmes in a joint effort between sheep farmers, farmers’ associations and veterinarians to inform about the means of transmission of the infection and for a better understanding of the disease.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Cenci-Goga et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Cenci Goga BT, Rossitto PV, Sechi P, Mc Crindle CME, Cullor JS: Toxoplasma in animals, food and humans: an old parasite of new concern. Foodborne pathog dis 2011, Vol. 8- n.7:1-12.
• [2]Dubey JP: Toxoplasmosis in sheep - The last 20 years. Vet Parasitol 2009, 163(1-2):1-14.
• [3]Urquart GM, Armour J, Duncan JL, Dunn AM, Jennings FW: Parassitologia veterinaria. 2nd edition. UTET, Milano, Italy; 2005.
• [4]Innes EA, Bartley PM, Buxton D, Katzer F: Ovine toxoplasmosis. Parasitology 2009, 136(14):1887-1894.
• [5]Tenter AM, Heckeroth A, Weiss LM: Toxoplasma gondi, from animals to humans. Int J Parasitol 2000, 30(12–13):1217-1258.
• [6]Clancy R, Ren Z, Turton J, Pang G, Wettstein A: Molecular evidence for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in Crohn’s disease correlates with enhanced TNF-alpha secretion. Digestive Liver Dis 2007, 39:445-451. 5, May, 2007
• [7]Tenter AM: Toxoplasma gondii in animals used for human consumption. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2009, 104:364-369.
• [8]Opsteegh M, Prickaerts S, Frankena K, Evers EG: A quantitative microbial risk assessment for meatborne Toxoplasma gondii infection in The Netherlands. Int J Food Microbiol 2011, 150(2–3):103-114.
• [9]Anonymous: Toxoplasmose: état des connaisances et évaluation du risque lié à l’alimentation. In AFSSA - Report of the Afssa working group “Toxoplasma gondii”, University of Pretoria. 2005. http://www.afssa.fr/Documents/MIC-Ra-Toxoplasmose.pdf webcite
• [10]Dubey JP, Jones JL: Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and animals in the United States. Int J Parasitol 2008, 38(11):1257-1278.
• [11]Samra NA, Mc Crindle CM, Penzhorn BL, Cenci Goga BT: Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep in South Africa. JS AfrVet Assoc 2007, 78(3):116-120.
• [12]Dubey JP, Kirkbride CA: Enzootic toxoplasmosis in sheep in North-Central United-States. J Parasitol 1989, 75(5):673-676.
• [13]Pinheiro JJW, Mota RA, da Fonseca Oliveira AA, Faria EB, Gondim LFP, da Silva AV, Anderlini GA: Prevalence and risk factors associated to infection by Toxoplasma gondii in ovine in the state of alagoas, Brazil. Parasitol Res 2009, 105:709-715.
• [14]Rossi GF, Cabral DD, Ribeiro DP, Pajuaba AC, Correa RR, Moreira RQ, Mineo TW, Mineo JR, Silva DA: Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum infections in sheep from Uberlandia, minas gerais state, Brazil, by different serological methods. Vet Parasitol 2011, 175(3–4):252-259.
• [15]Klun I, Djurkovic O, Katic-Radivojevic S, Nikolic A: Cross-sectional survey on Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle, sheep and pigs in Serbia: seroprevalence and risk factors. Vet Parasitol 2006, 135:121-131.
• [16]Sanad MM, Al Ghabban AJ: Serological survey on toxoplasmosis among slaughtered sheep and goats in Tabouk, Saudi Arabia. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 2007, 37(1):329-340.
• [17]Bonyadian M, Hematzade F, Manuchehri K: Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in center of Iran. Pak J Biol Sci 2007, 10(18):3228-3230.
• [18]Fusco G, Rinaldi L, Guarino A, Proroga YT, Pesce A, de Giuseppina M, Cringoli G: Toxoplasma gondii in sheep from the Campania region (Italy). Vet Parasitol 2007, 149(3-4):271-274.
• [19]Masala G, Porcu R, Madau L, Tanda A, Ilba B, Satta G, Tola S: Survey of ovine and caprine toxoplasmosis by IFAT and PCR assays in Sardinia, Italy. Vet Parasitol 2003, 117(1-2):15-21.
• [20]Cenci Goga BT: Toxoplasmosi negli animali, negli alimenti e nell’uomo. Una sfida per il medico veterinario – prima parte. Praxis veterinaria 2009, Vol. xxx- n.3:7-15.
• [21]Cenci Goga BT: Toxoplasmosi negli animali, negli alimenti e nell’uomo. Una sfida per il medico veterinario – seconda parte. Praxis veterinaria 2009, Vol. xxx- n.4:7-12.
• [22]Lopes WD, Santos TR, da Silva Rdos S, Rossanese WM, de Souza FA, de Faria Rogrigues JD, de Mendonça RP, Soares VE, Costa AJ: Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep raised in the jabotical microregion, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Res Vet Sci 2010, 88(1):104-106.
• [23]Anonymous: Anagrafe nazionale zootecnica - statistiche. 2012. http://www.izs.it/IZS webcite
• [24]Otte M, Gumm I: Intra-cluster correlation coefficients of 20 infections calculated from the results of cluster-sample surveys. Prev Vet Med 1997, 31:147-150.
• [25]Camargo ME: Introdução às técnicas de imunofluorescência. Revista Brasileira de Patologia Clı́ nica 1974, 10:143-171.
• [26]Shaapan RM, El-Nawawi FA, Tawfik MAA: Sensitivity and specificity of various serological tests for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in naturally infected sheep. Vet Parasitol 2008, 153(3–4):359-362.
• [27]Dohoo IRMW, Stryhn H: Veterinary epidemiologic research. 2nd edition. Charlottetown: VER Inc; 2009.
• [28]Rogan W, Gladen B: Estimating prevalence from the results of a screening test. Am J Epidemiol 1978, 107:71-76.
• [29]Alvarado-Esquivel C, García-Machado C, Alvarado-Esquivel D, Vitela-Corrales J, Villena I, Dubey JP: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic sheep in Durango state, Mexico. J Parasitol 2012, 98(2):271-273.
• [30]Opsteegh M, Teunis P, Mensink M, Züchner L, Lothar Z, Titilincu A, Langelaar M, van der Giessen J: Evaluation of ELISA test characteristics and estimation of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in Dutch sheep using mixture models. Prevent Veterinary Med 2010, 96(3-4):232-240.
• [31]Ueno TE, Gonçalves VS, Heinemann MB, Dilli TL, Akimoto BM, de Souza SL, Gennari SM, Soares RM: Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum infections in sheep from federal district, central region of Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 2009, 41(4):547-552.
• [32]Blewett DA: The epidemiology of ovine toxoplasmosis. I. The interpretation of data for the prevalence of antibody in sheep and other host species. Br Vet J 1983, 139:537-545.
• [33]Macrì G, Sala M, Linder A, Pettirossi N, Scarpulla M: Comparison of indirect fluorescent antibody test and modified agglutination test for detecting Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies in dog and cat. Parasitol Res 2009, 105(1):35-40.
• [34]Piergili Fioretti D: Problematiche e limiti dei metodi convenzionali ed innovativi nella diagnosi di Toxoplasmosi nell’uomo e negli animali. Parassitologia 2004, 46:177-181.
• [35]Anonymous: Single-use containers for venous blood specimen collection. ISO 1995, 6710:1995.
• [36]Zedda MT, Rolesu S, Pau S, Rosati I, Ledda S, Satta G, Patta C, Masala G: Epidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in ovine breeding. Zoonoses and Public Health 2010, 57(7–8):e102-e108.
• [37]Natale A, Porqueddu M, Capelli G, Mocci G, Marras A, Sanna Coccone GN, Garippa G, Scala A: Sero-epidemiological update on sheep toxoplasmosis in Sardinia, Italy. Parassitologia 2007, 49(4):235-238.
• [38]Vesco G, Buffolano W, La Chiusa S, Mancuso G, Caracappa S, Chianca A, Villari S, Currò V, Liga F, Petersen E: Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep in Sicily, southern Italy. Vet Parasitol 2007, 146(1‚Äì2):3-8.
• [39]Chikweto A, Kumthekar S, Tiwari K, Nyack B, Deokar MS, Stratton G, Macpherson CNL, Sharma RN, Dubey JP: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle from Grenada and carriacou, west Indies. J Parasitol 2011, 97(5):950-951.
• [40]Langoni H, Greca Júnior H, Guimarães FF, Ullmann LS, Gaio FC, Uehara RS, Rosa EP, Amorim RM, Da Silva RC: Serological profile of Toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum infection in commercial sheep from Sào Paulo State, Brazil. Vet Parasitol 2011, 177(1–2):50-54.
• [41]Hutchinson JP, Wear AR, Lambton SL, Smith RP, Pritchard GC: Survey to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in British sheep flocks. Vet Rec 2011, 169(22):582.
• [42]Dubey JP, Beattie CP: Toxoplasmosis of animals and Man. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA; 1988.
• [43]Dubey JP: Toxoplasma gondii oocyst survival under defined temperatures. J Parasitol 1998, 84(4):862-865.
• [44]van der Puije WNA, Bosompem KM, Canacoo EA, Wastling JM, Akanmori BD: The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Ghanaian sheep and goats. Acta Trop 2000, 76(1):21-26.