Cattle toxoplasmosis in Iran：a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze and review the overall seroprevalence rate ofToxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) infection in cattle fromIran.Methods:In the current study, data collection(published and unpublished papers, abstracts of national scientific congresses and dissertations) using particular terms was carried out systematically on the following electronic databases like PubMed,GoogleScholar,Ebsco,ScienceDirect,Scopus,Magiran,Irandoc,IranMedex andSID (ScientificInformationDatabase).Results:A total of22 studies since1983 to2012 reporting the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle from different regions ofIran met our eligibility criteria.The pooled proportion of toxoplasmosis, using random effect model, among cattle inIran from over the30-year period was estimated18.1%(95%CI9.9% to28.2%) .Conclusions:This study firstly establishes a crude seroprevalence rate ofToxoplasmainfection in cattle which can lead us to understand the condition of cattle toxoplasmosis, which have to take into accounted for an appropriate and effective prevention and controls.Secondly, it compares and discusses elaborately the role of risk factors including sex, age and breed in the epidemiology of the disease.Thus, it determines gaps and drawbacks in the prior studies which are greatly useful to design more accurate investigations in the future.