FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasit Vectors / Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses and donkeys in...
Parasites & vectors2013; 6; 168; doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-168

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses and donkeys in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China.

Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, with a worldwide distribution. There have been limited reports about the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in equids around the world and little is known about the seroprevalence of T. gondii in equids in southwestern China, in particular in Yunnan Province. The objective of the present investigation was to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in equids in this area. Methods: A total of 399 serum samples (266 from horses and 133 from donkeys) were collected in 2012, and assayed for T. gondii antibodies by Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test using a commercially available kit. Results: A total of 108 (27.1%) equids, including 81 (30.5%) horses and 27 (20.3%) donkeys were positive for T. gondii antibodies, and the seroprevalence ranged from 18.8% to 37.5% among different sampling areas. The seroprevalence was 27.4% and 26.8% for male and female equids, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The seroprevalence ranged from 21% to 32.9% among different age groups, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present survey indicated the existence of high T. gondii seroprevalence in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, which has significant public health concern. Therefore, it is imperative that improved integrated measures be carried out to prevent and control T. gondii infection in equids in the studied region.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2013-06-06 PubMed ID: 23742078PubMed Central: PMC3679964DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-168Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 article is about a study on the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, a type of parasitic infection, in horses and donkeys in Yunnan Province in Southwestern China.

Background and Objective of Study

  • Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans, and is found all around the globe.
  • However, there is limited information available on the seroprevalence (the level of a specific antibody in the blood, in this case, the T. gondii antibody) in equids (horses and donkeys) worldwide, and particularly in Yunnan Province, southwestern China.
  • The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in horses and donkeys in this region.

Methodology

  • In 2012, the researchers collected a total of 399 serum samples from horses and donkeys (266 from horses and 133 from donkeys).
  • The presence of T. gondii antibodies in these samples was then tested using the Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test with a commercially available kit.

Results

  • Out of the total equids tested, 108 (or 27.1%) were found to test positive for T. gondii antibodies.
  • This included 30.5% of the horses and 20.3% of the donkeys sampled.
  • The seroprevalence varied from 18.8% to 37.5% across different sampling areas.
  • There was very little difference found in seroprevalence between male and female equids (27.4% and 26.8% respectively), and the age of the equids also did not show a significant difference in seroprevalence (ranging from 21% to 32.9% across different age groups).

Conclusions and Implications

  • The researchers concluded that there was a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in the studied region, which is a significant public health concern.
  • As a result, the researchers recommended the implementation of improved integrated measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in equids in the region.

Cite This Article

APA
Miao Q, Wang X, She LN, Fan YT, Yuan FZ, Yang JF, Zhu XQ, Zou FC. (2013). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses and donkeys in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Parasit Vectors, 6, 168. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-6-168

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 6
Pages: 168

Researcher Affiliations

Miao, Qiang
  • College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan Province 650201, Kunming, PR China.
Wang, Xi
    She, Li-Na
      Fan, Ya-Ting
        Yuan, Fei-Zhou
          Yang, Jian-Fa
            Zhu, Xing-Quan
              Zou, Feng-Cai

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
                • China / epidemiology
                • Equidae
                • Female
                • Hemagglutination Tests
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horses
                • Male
                • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                • Toxoplasma / immunology
                • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology

                References

                This article includes 35 references
                1. Dubey JP. Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Humans. 2. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2010. p. 313.
                2. Tenter AM, Heckeroth AR, Weiss LM. Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans.. Int J Parasitol 2000 Nov;30(12-13):1217-58.
                  doi: 10.1016/S0020-7519(00)00124-7pmc: PMC3109627pubmed: 11113252google scholar: lookup
                3. Zhou P, Chen Z, Li HL, Zheng H, He S, Lin RQ, Zhu XQ. Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans in China.. Parasit Vectors 2011 Aug 24;4:165.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-165pmc: PMC3174123pubmed: 21864327google scholar: lookup
                4. Chen J, Xu MJ, Zhou DH, Song HQ, Wang CR, Zhu XQ. Canine and feline parasitic zoonoses in China.. Parasit Vectors 2012 Jul 28;5:152.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-152pmc: PMC3431282pubmed: 22839365google scholar: lookup
                5. Nardoni S, Angelici MC, Mugnaini L, Mancianti F. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Myocastor coypus in a protected Italian wetland.. Parasit Vectors 2011 Dec 23;4:240.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-240pmc: PMC3262763pubmed: 22196032google scholar: lookup
                6. Dubey JP, Thulliez P, Romand S, Kwok OC, Shen SK, Gamble HR. Serologic prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses slaughtered for food in North America.. Vet Parasitol 1999 Oct 15;86(4):235-8.
                  doi: 10.1016/S0304-4017(99)00148-Xpubmed: 10536980google scholar: lookup
                7. Pomares C, Ajzenberg D, Bornard L, Bernardin G, Hasseine L, Darde ML, Marty P. Toxoplasmosis and horse meat, France.. Emerg Infect Dis 2011 Jul;17(7):1327-8.
                  doi: 10.3201/eid1707.101642pmc: PMC3381409pubmed: 21762609google scholar: lookup
                8. Tassi P. Toxoplasma gondii infection in horses. A review.. Parassitologia 2007 Jun;49(1-2):7-15.
                  pubmed: 18412038
                9. Yang N, Mu MY, Yuan GM, Zhang GX, Li HK, He JB. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered horses and donkeys in Liaoning province, northeastern China.. Parasit Vectors 2013 May 16;6:140.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-140pmc: PMC3659062pubmed: 23680297google scholar: lookup
                10. Ling CW, Wang PD. Investigation report of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies to horse and mule in Sichuan region. J Vet Sci Technol 1984;4:32–34.
                11. Ge LM, Song LH, Chen FY, Wang M, Yu XJ, Yu YH, Zhao QQ, Lin RH. Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and animals in Dalian City. Chin J Zoonoses 1991;5:34.
                12. Fu B, Wang ZM. Epidemiological investigation of toxoplasmosis in Shandong Province. Chin J Parasit Dis Cont 1995;8:205–207.
                13. Zhang DL, Niu ZW. Epidemiological investigation of toxoplasmosis in humans and livestock in Tianzhu region. Gansu J Anim Vet Sci 1998;28:20–21.
                14. Gao LY, Yang K, Chen DT. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in horse in Tianjun region. Chin J Anim Quarantine 2001;18:38.
                15. Bai WS, Chen Y, Ba LT, Mai MT. Investigation of toxoplasmosis in livestock in Aksu district usig serological method. Chin J Vet Parasitol 2002;2:29–30.
                16. Cui P, Fang SF, Wu ZY, Wu BQ. Epidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis in livestock in Hebei Province. Chin J Vet Sci Technol 2004;34:33–34.
                17. Zhang QQ, Xu WP, Wang XQ, Chen YM, Liu W, Ma JW, Li GD, Du CB, Wang Z. Seroepidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis in livestock and poultry in Ningxia. Chin J Vet Sci Technol 1987;6:22–24.
                18. Bian QH, Bai JY, Su DS, Liu BS, Liu XF. Seroepidemiological survey of toxoplasmosis in humans and livestock in Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai. Chin J Vet Sci Technol 1988;1:17–19.
                19. Feng XR, Wang SR. Serological investigation report of Toxoplasma gondii among livestock in Henan Province. J China Agricultural University 1998;2:172–173.
                20. Zhang WD. Preliminary Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in livestock in South China. Chin J Zoonoses 1986;2:55.
                21. Alanazi AD, Alyousif MS. Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.. J Parasitol 2011 Oct;97(5):943-5.
                  pubmed: 21506811doi: 10.1645/ge-2677.1google scholar: lookup
                22. Hajialilo E, Ziaali N, Harandi MF, Saraei M, Hajialilo M. Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sport horses from Qazvin, Iran.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2010 Oct;42(7):1321-2.
                  doi: 10.1007/s11250-010-9576-4pubmed: 20383793google scholar: lookup
                23. Haridy FM, Shoukry NM, Hassan AA, Morsy TA. ELISA-seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in draught horses in Greater Cairo, Egypt.. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 2009 Dec;39(3):821-6.
                  pubmed: 20120748
                24. Boughattas S, Bergaoui R, Essid R, Aoun K, Bouratbine A. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in Tunisia.. Parasit Vectors 2011 Nov 22;4:218.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-218pmc: PMC3253060pubmed: 22107730google scholar: lookup
                25. Evers F, Garcia JL, Navarro IT, Zulpo DL, Nino Bde S, Ewald MP, Pagliari S, Almeida JC, Freire RL. Diagnosis and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in horses from Brazilian slaughterhouses.. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2013 Jan-Mar;22(1):58-63.
                  pubmed: 23538498doi: 10.1590/s1984-29612013005000009google scholar: lookup
                26. García-Bocanegra I, Cabezón O, Arenas-Montes A, Carbonero A, Dubey JP, Perea A, Almería S. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in equids from Southern Spain.. Parasitol Int 2012 Sep;61(3):421-4.
                  pubmed: 22366344doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.02.003google scholar: lookup
                27. Karatepe B, Babür C, Karatepe M, Kiliç S. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in horses in Niğde Province of Turkey.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2010 Mar;42(3):385-9.
                  doi: 10.1007/s11250-009-9430-8pubmed: 19701805google scholar: lookup
                28. Alvarado-Esquivel C, Rodríguez-Peña S, Villena I, Dubey JP. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic horses in Durango State, Mexico.. J Parasitol 2012 Oct;98(5):944-5.
                  pubmed: 22559329doi: 10.1645/ge-3174.1google scholar: lookup
                29. Gupta GD, Lakritz J, Kim JH, Kim DY, Kim JK, Marsh AE. Seroprevalence of Neospora, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona antibodies in horses from Jeju island, South Korea.. Vet Parasitol 2002 Jun 26;106(3):193-201.
                  doi: 10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00064-Xpubmed: 12062508google scholar: lookup
                30. Jakubek EB, Lundén A, Uggla A. Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora sp. infections in Swedish horses.. Vet Parasitol 2006 Jun 15;138(3-4):194-9.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.002pubmed: 16517077google scholar: lookup
                31. Dubey JP, Thulliez P, Weigel RM, Andrews CD, Lind P, Powell EC. Sensitivity and specificity of various serologic tests for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in naturally infected sows.. Am J Vet Res 1995 Aug;56(8):1030-6.
                  pubmed: 8533974
                32. Zou FC, Sun XT, Xie YJ, Li B, Zhao GH, Duan G, Zhu XQ. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs in southwestern China.. Parasitol Int 2009 Sep;58(3):306-7.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2009.06.002pubmed: 19523533google scholar: lookup
                33. Wang CR, Qiu JH, Gao JF, Liu LM, Wang C, Liu Q, Yan C, Zhu XQ. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats in northeastern China. Small Ruminant Res 2011;97:130–133.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.02.009google scholar: lookup
                34. Qiu JH, Wang CR, Zhang X, Sheng ZH, Chang QC, Zhao Q, Wu SM, Zou FC, Zhu XQ. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in beef cattle and dairy cattle in northeast China.. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2012 Jul;9(7):579-82.
                  doi: 10.1089/fpd.2011.1104pubmed: 22545962google scholar: lookup
                35. Chang QC, Zheng X, Qiu JH, Wang CR, Zhu XQ. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in fattening pigs in Northeast China.. J Parasitol 2013 Jun;99(3):544-5.
                  doi: 10.1645/12-102.1pubmed: 23116060google scholar: lookup

                Citations

                This article has been cited 21 times.
                1. Liang W, Zhao S, Wang N, Tang Z, Zhao F, Liu M, Jin W, Meng Y, Jia L. Molecular occurrence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in equids in Jilin, China.. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 30;12(1):13121.
                  doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-16658-6pubmed: 35907906google scholar: lookup
                2. Chen L, Zhao ZJ, Meng QF. Detection of Specific IgG-Antibodies Against Toxoplasma gondii in the Serum and Milk of Domestic Donkeys During Lactation in China: A Potential Public Health Concern.. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021;11:760400.
                  doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.760400pubmed: 34746030google scholar: lookup
                3. Maspi N, Nayeri T, Moosazadeh M, Sarvi S, Sharif M, Daryani A. Global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Camelidae: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Acta Parasitol 2021 Sep;66(3):733-744.
                  doi: 10.1007/s11686-020-00333-9pubmed: 33666861google scholar: lookup
                4. 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).
                  doi: 10.3390/pathogens10020111pubmed: 33499205google scholar: lookup
                5. Akter R, Legione A, Sansom FM, El-Hage CM, Hartley CA, Gilkerson JR, Devlin JM. Detection of Coxiella burnetii and equine herpesvirus 1, but not Leptospira spp. or Toxoplasma gondii, in cases of equine abortion in Australia - a 25 year retrospective study.. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233100.
                  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233100pubmed: 32453753google scholar: lookup
                6. 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.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00037pubmed: 32095611google scholar: lookup
                7. Ouslimani SF, Tennah S, Azzag N, Derdour SY, China B, Ghalmi F. Seroepidemiological study of the exposure to Toxoplasma gondii among horses in Algeria and analysis of risk factors.. Vet World 2019 Dec;12(12):2007-2016.
                  doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.2007-2016pubmed: 32095054google scholar: lookup
                8. Abdalhamed AM, Hassanain MA, Zeedan GSG, Shaapan RM. Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii propagated in specific pathogen free embryonated chicken egg, for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in equids and human.. J Parasit Dis 2019 Sep;43(3):498-505.
                  doi: 10.1007/s12639-019-01117-3pubmed: 31406416google scholar: lookup
                9. 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.
                  doi: 10.1051/parasite/2018066pubmed: 30526821google scholar: lookup
                10. Zhou J, Wang L. SAG4 DNA and Peptide Vaccination Provides Partial Protection against T. gondii Infection in BALB/c Mice.. Front Microbiol 2017;8:1733.
                  doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01733pubmed: 28936207google scholar: lookup
                11. Li F, Wang SP, Wang CJ, He SC, Wu X, Liu GH. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in goats in Hunan province, China.. Parasite 2016;23:44.
                  doi: 10.1051/parasite/2016053pubmed: 27762212google scholar: lookup
                12. Razmi GR, Abedi V, Yaghfoori S. Serological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Turkoman horses in the North Khorasan Province, Iran.. J Parasit Dis 2016 Jun;40(2):515-9.
                  doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0536-1pubmed: 27413330google scholar: lookup
                13. Zou F, Yu X, Yang Y, Hu S, Chang H, Yang J, Duan G. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Buffaloes, Sheep and Goats in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China.. Iran J Parasitol 2015 Oct-Dec;10(4):648-51.
                  pubmed: 26811733
                14. Aroussi A, Vignoles P, Dalmay F, Wimel L, Dardé ML, Mercier A, Ajzenberg D. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in horse meat from supermarkets in France and performance evaluation of two serological tests.. Parasite 2015;22:14.
                  doi: 10.1051/parasite/2015014pubmed: 25809058google scholar: lookup
                15. Lee SH, Lee SE, Seo MG, Goo YK, Cho KH, Cho GJ, Kwon OD, Kwak D, Lee WJ. Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii exposure among horses in Korea.. J Vet Med Sci 2014 Dec;76(12):1663-5.
                  doi: 10.1292/jvms.14-0353pubmed: 25649954google scholar: lookup
                16. Miao Q, Huang SY, Qin SY, Yu X, Yang Y, Yang JF, Zhu XQ, Zou FC. Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Yunnan black goats (Capra hircus) in southwest China by PCR-RFLP.. Parasit Vectors 2015 Jan 27;8:57.
                  doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-0673-0pubmed: 25622613google scholar: lookup
                17. Alvarado-Esquivel C, Alvarado-Esquivel D, Dubey JP. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) in Durango, Mexico slaughtered for human consumption.. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jan 17;11:6.
                  doi: 10.1186/s12917-015-0325-9pubmed: 25595816google scholar: lookup
                18. Rong G, Zhou HL, Hou GY, Zhao JM, Xu TS, Guan S. Seroprevalence, risk factors and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic geese (Anser domestica) in tropical China.. Parasit Vectors 2014 Oct 2;7:459.
                  doi: 10.1186/s13071-014-0459-9pubmed: 25274416google scholar: lookup
                19. Xu Y, Zhang NZ, Tan QD, Chen J, Lu J, Xu QM, Zhu XQ. Evaluation of immuno-efficacy of a novel DNA vaccine encoding Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein 38 (TgROP38) against chronic toxoplasmosis in a murine model.. BMC Infect Dis 2014 Sep 30;14:525.
                  doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-525pubmed: 25267356google scholar: lookup
                20. Chen J, Li ZY, Huang SY, Petersen E, Song HQ, Zhou DH, Zhu XQ. Protective efficacy of Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (TgCDPK1) adjuvated with recombinant IL-15 and IL-21 against experimental toxoplasmosis in mice.. BMC Infect Dis 2014 Sep 6;14:487.
                  doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-487pubmed: 25192845google scholar: lookup
                21. Mancianti F, Nardoni S, Papini R, Mugnaini L, Martini M, Altomonte I, Salari F, D'Ascenzi C, Dubey JP. Detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the blood and milk of naturally infected donkeys (Equus asinus).. Parasit Vectors 2014 Apr 3;7:165.
                  doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-165pubmed: 24708691google scholar: lookup
                Subscribe to our newsletter
                Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.