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Background and Aim: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. There is little information about the risk of occupational exposure to toxoplasmosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis among the butchers in Sanandaj City. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 butchers in Sanandaj from May to October 2018. Sampling method was census. The inclusion criteria consisted of: at least 1 year of work experience in the butcher shop and age > 18 years old. After obtaining 5 ml blood sample from each butcher serum samples were prepared. All 53 serum samples were evaluated by ELISA kit for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody. Furthermore, demographic characteristics and risk factors for toxoplasmosis were investigated, which included: age, residence area, educational level, duration of activity, raw meat consumption, eating while working, wearing gloves, injury when handling raw meat and keeping cat indoors. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: 6 (11.32%) of the 53 butchers were positive for Toxoplasma gondii. Eating while working and wearing gloves had a significant association with the prevalence of toxoplasmosis (P<0.05). Age, residence area, educational level, duration of activity, raw meat consumption, injury when handling raw meat and keeping cat had no significant association with the prevalence of toxoplasmosis (P>0.05). Conclusion:The results of this study showed low seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among the butchers of Sanandaj, which can be explained in three aspects: acquaintance of the butchers with the parasitic cysts of the tissues compared to other strata of society, ignoring butchers in non-licensed butcher shops who do not follow hygiene standards, as well as the advancement of various processes of raw meat supply in the last two decades.

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Introduction: Sarcocystis is an apicomplexan heteroxenous protozoan leading to adverse consequences for production in sheep with remarkable importance in public health. The current study aimed to investigate molecular prevalence data on Sarcocystis spp. in slaughtered sheep using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in Hamedan, Iran. Methods and materials: The carcass of 60 sheep slaughtered in the Hamedan abattoir were sampled from May 2019 to June 2020. Heart, scapular, esophageal and diaphragmatic muscles were macroscopically examined and recorded as positive in case of the presence of tissue cyst. In this regard, 50 grams of each muscle was sliced and transferred to the laboratory on ice for microscopic and molecular analysis. The molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. was performed using the PCR-RFLP method. Results: By microscopy, all specimens contained bradyzoites in cysts. The molecular analysis further revealed Sarcocystis species, including Sarcocystis gigantea (S. gigantea), S. tenella, and S. arieticanis. Conclusion: The present study emphasized that three Sarcocystis spp. were circulating among sheep and carnivorous hosts in the investigated area. Further molecular investigations are highly recommended to better evaluate the epidemiology of this zoonotic parasite.