Sheep - an important reservoir of human toxoplasmosis in Iran

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease and ubiquitous in the world. Infection rate in the tropical and subtropical regions with high humidity is higher than other areas. The rate is lower in dry regions whether hot or cold. More than 200 species of,warm blooded animals are intermediate hosts and cats or members of the carnivore family Felidae have been found to be definitive hosts. In Iran in the northern provinces of Mazandaran and Gilan, infection rate is higher than other provinces [about 70%] while in the southern provinces of Hormozgan, Sistan and Balouchestan, and Khuzestan, this rate is lower [about 12%]. Common routes of transmission of the infection are feeding of uncooked meat or working with contaminated meat. In this study, 387 blood samples of sheep from slaughterhouses in Tehran were evaluated by the direct agglutination method. Prevalance rate was 61.24% and indicated a potential danger for food hygiene. The main aim of this article is to inform health officials as well as workers and housewives about this hazard