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Parasites & vectors2011; 4; 218; doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-218

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in Tunisia.

Abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the serological survey of Toxoplasma antibodies in local.horses from three major regions: a neighbourhood of a city in the North (Sidi Thabet), a neighbourhood of a city on the coast (Monastir) and a neighbourhood of a city in the middle (Battan) of Tunisia (North of Africa). Methods: A total of 158 serum samples were obtained from clinically healthy horses which consisted of 111 (32 female, 79 male) 2-10 years old and 47 (11 female, 36 male) older than 10 years. All of the horses were tested for antibodies to T. gondii using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). Results: According to MAT results, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 28 (17.7%) of 158 sera with the titers of 1:20 in 20 horses, 1:40 in 1 horse, 1:80 in 2 horses, 1:160 in 2 horses, 1:320 in 1 horse and ≥1:640 in 2 horses. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 18 (16.2%) of 111 horses (2-10 years old) and 10 (21.2%) of 47 horses (older than 10 years old). Six (13.9%) out of 43 female had anti-toxoplasma antibodies and 22 (19.1%) from 115 males remained positive. Conclusions: Statistically significant differences in age groups and genders were observed between the seropositive and seronegative horses using the Chi square X(2) test. Other statistical correlation was also reported concerning horse breed.
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Publication Date: 2011-11-22 PubMed ID: 22107730PubMed Central: PMC3253060DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-218Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 studies the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in horses from three major regions in Tunisia. The findings indicate 17.7% of horses tested have the Toxoplasma gondii antibodies with statistical correlations observed among age, gender, and breed of horses.

Objective of Study

  • The study aimed at investigating the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in three distinct regions in Tunisia, North Africa.

Sample and Methodology

  • 158 clinically healthy horses were selected for the study, of which 111 were aged between 2-10 years (32 females and 79 males), and 47 were older than 10 years (11 females and 36 males).
  • The horses’ serum samples were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT).

Study Findings

  • Of the total sera, 28(17.7%) had antibodies against T. gondii, with varied titers.
  • Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 18 (16.2%) of horses aged 2-10 years and 10 (21.2%) of horses older than 10 years.
  • In terms of gender, 6 (13.9%) out of 43 female horses and 22 (19.1%) out of 115 male horses were found to have anti-toxoplasma antibodies.
  • The titers ranged from 1:20 in 20 horses to ≥1:640 in 2 horses.

Conclusion and Statistical Inference

  • Significant statistical differences were noted between horses with and without the antibodies (seropositive and seronegative respectively), using the Chi square X(2) test.
  • Correlations were found concerning the horse’s age, gender, and breed, meaning these factors may play a role in a horse’s likelihood of carrying anti-T. gondii antibodies.

Cite This Article

APA
Boughattas S, Bergaoui R, Essid R, Aoun K, Bouratbine A. (2011). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in Tunisia. Parasit Vectors, 4, 218. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-4-218

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Pages: 218

Researcher Affiliations

Boughattas, Sonia
  • Laboratoire de Recherche 05SP03, Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, 1002 Tunis Belvédères, Tunisia.
Bergaoui, Ramzi
    Essid, Rym
      Aoun, Karim
        Bouratbine, Aida

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Distribution
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies
          • Sex Distribution
          • Toxoplasma / immunology
          • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
          • Tunisia / epidemiology

          References

          This article includes 12 references

          Citations

          This article has been cited 21 times.
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