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Acta tropica2019; 201; 105222; doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105222

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses: A global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: Toxoplasmosis, one of the most common zoonoses worldwide, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Horses are an intermediate host of T. gondii, representing a potential risk for humans. To determine the T. gondii seroprevalence in horses worldwide, a global meta-analysis was conducted. A total of 35 publications were obtained by searching the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Chinese Web of knowledge (CNKI) and Wanfang databases. A total of 12,354 horses were assessed, of which 1580 were positive for T. gondii. The pooled overall seroprevalence of horses infected by T. gondii was 11.29%. No significant difference of T. gondii seroprevalence was observed between male and female horses. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in horses from different countries varied. Our findings suggest that toxoplasmosis is prevalent in horses worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to implement continuous monitoring of the status of T. gondii seroprevalence in horses. Moreover, powerful regulatory measures should be implemented to prevent and control the spread of toxoplasmosis.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2019-10-19 PubMed ID: 31639325DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105222Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

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.

This research article provides an overview of the global prevalence of an infectious disease called Toxoplasmosis, caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, in horses. Drawing from a meta-analysis of 35 different studies, the research suggests that toxoplasmosis is prevalent in horses worldwide, with an overall infection rate of 11.29%.

General Overview of the Research

  • The researchers conducted a global systematic review and meta-analysis to better understand the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in horses around the world.
  • They utilized a total of 35 publications gathered from various databases which included PubMed, ScienceDirect, Chinese Web of knowledge (CNKI), and Wanfang in their analysis.
  • The focus of the study was T. gondii, a protozoa that causes Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic infection that is common worldwide and able to infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans and horses.

Research Findings on T. gondii prevalence in Horses

  • The analysis involved a total of 12,354 horses, and found that 1580 of them were infected with T. gondii.
  • The pooled overall seroprevalence, or the level at which the horses tested positive for the infection, was calculated to be 11.29%. This affirms that toxoplasmosis is prevalent in horses globally.
  • They also found no significant difference between male and female horses in terms of the prevalence of the T. gondii infection.
  • The research however noted that the prevalence of T. gondii in horses varied from country to country.

Research Implications and Recommendations

  • The researchers suggest that with the prevalence of T. gondii in horses, it is crucial to continue monitoring the status of T. gondii seroprevalence in horses due to the zoonotic nature of the disease.
  • They recommend that strong regulatory measures should be put in place to prevent and control the spread of Toxoplasmosis from horses to humans and other warm-blooded animals.
  • The findings can guide policy implications regarding animal farming practices, particularly horse breeding, but also food animal production because of potential cross-transmission risks.

Cite This Article

APA
Li X, Ni HB, Ren WX, Jiang J, Gong QL, Zhang XX. (2019). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Trop, 201, 105222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105222

Publication

Acta tropica
ISSN: 1873-6254
NlmUniqueID: 0370374
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 201
Pages: 105222

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Xi
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, PR China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province 163319, PR China.
Ni, Hong-Bo
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, PR China.
Ren, Wei-Xin
  • College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province 163319, PR China.
Jiang, Jing
  • College of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province 130600, PR China. Electronic address: jiangjingxiaoyao@163.com.
Gong, Qing-Long
  • College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, PR China.
Zhang, Xiao-Xuan
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266109, PR China. Electronic address: zhangxiaoxuan1988@126.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology

Citations

This article has been cited 22 times.
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