ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors and genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in white yaks (Bos grunniens) in China. A total of 974 serum samples were collected from white yaks in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County (TTAC), Gansu province, northwest China for detecting T. gondii antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT), and 414 tissues belonging to 138 white yaks were collected for detecting T. gondii DNA by amplification of B1 gene with a semi-nested PCR. A total of 155 serum samples (15.91%) were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies at a 1:100 cut-off, and 10 DNA samples (7.25%) were positive for the T. gondii B1 gene, which were genetically characterized using multilocus PCR-RFLP. Only one genotype (ToxoDB#9) was identified from two samples with complete genotyping results. Statistically significant differences were not observed between T. gondii seroprevalence and gender, season or pregnancy in the logistic regression analysis (P>0.05). Ages of white yaks was considered as a main risk factor associated with T. gondii infection. Our results indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii among white yaks, and revealed the genotype ToxoDB#9 of T. gondii in white yaks for the first time in China.
Subject(s)
Cattle Diseases/parasitology , Toxoplasma/genetics , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology , Animals , Cattle , Cattle Diseases/epidemiology , China/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The objective of the present investigation was to determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in free-range yaks in China. A total of 552 serum samples were collected from yaks in Gansu province, northwest China between April 2013 and January 2014, and antibodies against C. burnetii were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, 13.59% (75/552, 95% CI: 10.73-16.45) of the examined animals were positive for C. burnetii antibodies. There was no significant difference in C. burnetii seroprevalence between female yaks (13.78%, 95% CI: 10.36-17.19) and male yaks (13.13%, 95% CI: 7.89-18.36) (P>0.05). Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in yaks in different age groups ranged from 10.88% to 15.26%, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Coxiella burnetii seroprevalence in yaks sampled in different seasons ranged from 12.06% (autumn) to 18.33% (summer), but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). This is the first report of C. burnetii seroprevalence in free-range yaks in China, indicating the need for measures to be taken to control C. burnetii infection in free-range yaks in China.
