ABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, a worldwide zoonosis responsible for abortion and congenital malformation in animal and human. The present study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of T. gondii infection among sheep and goats from Benin. A total of 368 small ruminants: 215 serum samples from sheep raised in Sahelian area of North Benin and 153 serum samples from goats raised in a family farm from South-Benin, were collected and screened for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies by the ELISA-indirect method. The results show the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG in 53% (83/153) of goats and 1.4% of sheep (3/215). Age, sex and breed did not seem to affect the frequency of this infection. Among goats, T. gondii infection was higher in animals reared in the coastal zone (Cotonou municipality) than those raised on the island (Allada municipality) [odds ratio (OR) = 4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-15.002, p = 0.032, (χ2) test]. Humidity would be the determining factor in the disparity of recorded infection rates among sheep and goat. The high prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis observed in southern Benin shows strong environmental contamination. Sensitization campaigns should therefore be undertaken by the public health authorities to inform the inhabitants of this area about risks and preventive measures of this zoonose.
ABSTRACT
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-01076-1.].
ABSTRACT
AIM: Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite which causes toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Felids especially cats are definitive hosts and almost all warm-blooded mammals, including livestock and human can serve as intermediate hosts. Food animals can be reservoirs for T. gondii and act as one of the sources for parasite transmission to humans. The objective of this study is to collect serological data on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody, and risk factors for certain food animals from Africa to provide a quantitative estimate of T. gondii infection among these species from different African countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four databases were used to search seroepidemiological data on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody in food animals between 1969 and 2016 from African countries. The search focused on data obtained by serologic test in food animals and meta-analyses were performed per species. RESULTS: A total of 30,742 individual samples from 24 countries, described in 68 articles were studied. The overall estimated prevalence for toxoplasmosis in chicken, camel, cattle, sheep, goat, pig were 37.4% (29.2-46.0%), 36% (18-56%), 12% (8-17%), 26.1% (17.0-37.0%), 22.9% (12.3-36.0%), and 26.0% (20-32.0%), respectively. Moreover, major risk factor of infection was age, farming system, and farm location. CONCLUSIONS: A significant variation in the seroepidemiological data was observed within each species and country. The results can aid in an updated epidemiological analysis but also can be used as an important input in quantitative microbial risk assessment models. Further studies are required for a better and continual evaluation of the occurrence of this zoonotic infection.
