Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in aborted ewes in Kuwait

J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2014 Aug;44(2):393-6. doi: 10.12816/0006478.

Abstract

Serum samples from 528 aborted ewes from different sheep flocks in Kuwait were tested for Toxoplasma gondii. The indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) was used with a titer of 1:80 considered positive. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 94 (17.8%). The highest number of positive ewes (23; 24.5%) had a titer of 1:640. Only one aborted ewe had a titer of 1:2560. This study is the first to report Toxoplasma infection in sheep which may pose risk to humans who consume under cooked mutton. The detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in aborted ewes refers to the implication of toxoplasmosis in abortion among sheep in Kuwait.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
  • Abortion, Veterinary / parasitology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Female
  • Kuwait / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / blood
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sheep Diseases / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / blood*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan