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Frontiers in veterinary science2025; 12; 1561145; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1561145

Seroepidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii in equines in Northern Egypt.

Abstract: Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular protozoan (), continues to be a widespread parasitic zoonotic disease globally. The seroepidemiology of infection in Egyptian equids, particularly donkeys, remains insufficiently explored. The present study was designed to assess the seroprevalence of in equines from Northern Egypt. Unassigned: A total of 360 serum samples from two equine species (157 horses and 203 donkeys) were obtained during 2023. The Modified Agglutination Test (MAT, cut-off of 1:25) was used to screen for the anti- antibodies. The study also analyzed potential risk factors that could contribute to the exposure of the animals to the parasite, including species, breed, sex, age, and the specific location of each animal. Unassigned: The overall seroprevalence of among examined equines was 41.11% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 36.03-46.19). The relationships between seropositivity and explanatory variables were analyzed using a Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach. The seroprevalence of was significantly higher in donkeys (51.23%) than in horses (28.03%; < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 2.99; 95% CI: 2.35-3.81). Unassigned: Collectively, our findings revealed a high exposure among equine species in Northern Egypt, with a notably higher seroprevalence in donkeys compared to horses. This study represents one of the most extensive serosurveys of in equids conducted in Egypt, featuring the largest sample size of donkeys examined to date. It also examined previously unexplored risk factors related to parasite exposure in equids. The present findings highlight the critical importance of performing periodical surveillance, monitoring, and management of the parasite among equids, which might have a major impact on animal and public health.
Copyright © 2025 Elmahallawy, Hassan, Cano-Terriza, Albalawi, Fajardo, Gouda, Atiba, Hendawy, Villena, Barakat, Alzaylaee, Almería and García-Bocanegra.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-19 PubMed ID: 40458764PubMed Central: PMC12128643DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1561145Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper investigates the prevalence of the parasitic disease Toxoplasmosis in horses and donkeys in Northern Egypt, finding a particularly high rate of infection in donkeys.

Objective of Study

  • The study was intended to examine the prevalence or seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan responsible for Toxoplasmosis, in horses and donkeys in Northern Egypt.
  • The research team aimed to fill in gaps in existing knowledge about how this zoonotic disease affects equines, particularly donkeys, in Egypt.
  • The study also sought to analyze possible risk factors contributing to the animal’s exposure to the parasite.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected 360 serum samples from two types of equines – 157 from horses and 203 from donkeys – during the year 2023.
  • The Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) was used to screen for antibodies against the Toxoplasma gondii parasite.
  • In addition to detecting the presence of the anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, they also considered variables such as species, breed, sex, age, and location of each animal.

Results

  • The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among the examined equines was 41.11%.
  • Analysis of seropositivity and explanatory variables was carried out using a Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach.
  • The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was significantly higher in donkeys (51.23%) than in horses (28.03%).

Conclusions

  • The study revealed a high exposure to the parasite among both horses and donkeys within Northern Egypt.
  • Donkeys were found to have a notably higher prevalence of exposure and infection when compared to horses.
  • This study has the distinction of being one of the most extensive serosurveys conducted in the country on equines, with the largest sample size of donkeys examined.
  • The data from this study can contribute to a better understanding of previously unexplored risk factors relating to equine exposure to the parasite.
  • The results of this study emphasize the need for regular surveillance, monitoring, and management of Toxoplasma gondii in equine populations to reduce public health risks and protect animal health.

Cite This Article

APA
Elmahallawy EK, Hassan MF, Cano-Terriza D, Albalawi NO, Fajardo T, Gouda AA, Atiba A, Hendawy A, Villena I, Barakat AM, Alzaylaee H, Almería S, García-Bocanegra I. (2025). Seroepidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii in equines in Northern Egypt. Front Vet Sci, 12, 1561145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1561145

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 1561145
PII: 1561145

Researcher Affiliations

Elmahallawy, Ehab Kotb
  • Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
  • Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
Hassan, Marwa F
  • Department of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Feed Deficiency, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Cano-Terriza, David
  • Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
  • CIBERINFEC, ISCIII CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Albalawi, Nada Oudah
  • Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia.
Fajardo, Tomás
  • Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
Gouda, Asmaa Aboelabbas
  • Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Atiba, Ayman
  • Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt.
Hendawy, Ahmed
  • Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt.
Villena, Isabelle
  • Laboratory of Parasitology, National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Reims Hospital, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR 7510, Reims, France.
Barakat, Ashraf Mohamed
  • Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Alzaylaee, Hind
  • Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Almería, Sonia
  • Virology and Parasitology Branch, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Food and Environmental Safety, Office of Applied Microbiology and Technology (OAMT), Office of Laboratory Operations and Applied Sciences (OLOAS), Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States.
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
  • Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
  • CIBERINFEC, ISCIII CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

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