Seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii infections among horses and donkeys in Nigeria, West Africa.
Abstract: Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are considered to be a globally distributed parasites affecting wide range of warm-blooded animals. Neosporosis has caused clinical illness in horses and consumption of horse meat has been epidemiologically linked to clinical toxoplasmosis in humans. This study was conducted to determine Neospora spp. and T. gondii antibodies and risk factors of infection in horses and donkeys from three states of Nigeria. A total of 144 samples were collected from clinically healthy animals (120 horses and 24 donkeys). The sera were tested for antibodies to Neospora spp. and T. gondii by indirect fluorescence antibody test, a titer ≥ 50 was considered positive. Seroprevalence data were statistically analyzed, considering the variables of gender, age, use, state, origin of breed and type of management. Antibodies to Neospora spp. and T. gondii were detected in 8% horses with titers 50 and in 24% horses with titers 50-800, respectively. Co-infection of both parasites was proved in three horses (3%). Statistical differences were found only for T. gondii seroprevalence in horses with different use, locality, origin and management (p-value ≤ 0.05). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in four (17%) of 24 donkeys with statistical difference (p-value ≤ 0.05) in animals of different use; antibodies to Neospora spp. were not proved in any of the donkeys. This is the first seroprevalence study of Neospora spp. and T. gondii in equids from Nigeria.
Publication Date: 2017-07-07 PubMed ID: 28682771DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0073Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the prevalence and risk factors associated with Neospora and Toxoplasma gondii infections in horses and donkeys in Nigeria.
Objective of the research
- The main goal of the study was to determine the presence of Neospora and T. gondii antibodies and identify risk factors for infection in horses and donkeys in Nigeria.
Methodology
- A total of 144 samples were collected from healthy horses and donkeys across three states in Nigeria.
- The collected sera were tested for antibodies to Neospora and T. gondii using an indirect fluorescence antibody test.
- For the purpose of this research, a titer greater than or equal to 50 was considered positive for the presence of antibodies.
Results
- The results showed that 8% of horses tested positive for Neospora, while 24% of horses showed the presence of T. gondii antibodies.
- Three horses (3%) showed co-infection of both parasites.
- The study also revealed that there were significant differences in T. gondii seroprevalence in horses depending on the use, location and origin of the breed, and their management practices.
- Among the donkeys, 17% were found to be infected with T. gondii, whereas none had Neospora infection. The former showed significant variations with different uses of the animal.
Significance of the research
- This research is significant as it is the first seroprevalence study of Neospora and T. gondii infections in equids from Nigeria.
- Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of these infections in this geographic area can help in implementing appropriate prevention and control strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Bártová E, Sedlák K, Kobédová K, Budíková M, Joel Atuman Y, Kamani J.
(2017).
Seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii infections among horses and donkeys in Nigeria, West Africa.
Acta Parasitol, 62(3), 606-609.
https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0073 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
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MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Coccidiosis / epidemiology
- Coccidiosis / parasitology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- Equidae / parasitology
- Female
- Male
- Neospora / isolation & purification
- Nigeria / epidemiology
- Risk Factors
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Toxoplasma / isolation & purification
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Costa PWL, Oliveira CSM, Bezerra RA, Alvares FBV, Formiga VHAS, Martins MRDD, Feitosa TF, Vilela VLR. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Urban Traction Equids in Northeast Brazil: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors.. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023 Apr 20;8(4).
- Marzok M, Al-Jabr OA, Salem M, Alkashif K, Sayed-Ahmed M, Wakid MH, Kandeel M, Selim A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Horses.. Vet Sci 2023 Mar 22;10(3).
- Mimoun L, Steinman A, Kliachko Y, Tirosh-Levy S, Schvartz G, Blinder E, Baneth G, Mazuz ML. Neospora spp. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Seropositivity in Apparently Healthy Horses and Pregnant Mares.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 7;12(19).
- Obonyo FO, Maingi N, Githigia SM, Kimeli P, Nyaboga EN. Occurrence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors in donkeys from central Kenya.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022 Jan 25;54(1):77.
- Perrucci S, Guardone L, Altomonte I, Salari F, Nardoni S, Martini M, Mancianti F. Apicomplexan Protozoa Responsible for Reproductive Disorders: Occurrence of DNA in Blood and Milk of Donkeys (Equus asinus) and Minireview of the Related Literature.. Pathogens 2021 Jan 22;10(2).
- Stelzer S, Basso W, Benavides Silván J, Ortega-Mora LM, Maksimov P, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact.. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019 Jun;15:e00037.
- Meng QF, Li D, Yao GZ, Zou Y, Cong W, Shan XF. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and variables associated with seropositivity in donkeys in eastern China.. Parasite 2018;25:66.
- Cong W, Nie LB, Qin SY, Wang WL, Qian AD, Meng QF. Prevalence of Neospora spp. in donkeys in China.. Parasite 2018;25:16.
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