Toxoplasmosis and chlamydiosis remain among the primary causes of abortion and fetal loss in small ruminants. Consequently, they are a source of considerable economic losses for farmers. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence and highlight the risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila abortus infection in small ruminants in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 small ruminant farms during a period from April to October 2021. A total of 1061 small ruminants were sampled, and the sera obtained were analyzed using the indirect ruminant multi-species ELISA test for specific IgG antibody detection for T. gondii and C. abortus at the National Veterinary Laboratory. A questionnaire was constructed to collect information about flock management and risk factors possibly associated with T. gondii and C. abortus infection in goats and sheep. Overall, 329 small ruminants tested positive for T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies and 45 for C. abortus-specific IgG antibodies with a seroprevalence of 31.1% (95% CI: 28.2–33.8) for T. gondii and 4.2% (95% CI: 3.0–5.5) for C. abortus, respectively. However, a significant co-infection of 1.8% (95% CI: 0.37–3.3) was obtained between T. gondii and C. abortus (p = 0.02). Linear regression model analysis revealed that, the seroprevalence of T. gondii at the flock level was significantly correlated with the region (0.22 CI: 0.17; 0.26) the breeding objectives (0.36 CI: 0.17; 0.56) the level of hygiene (0.11 CI: 0.01; 0.21) and presence abortions (0.55 CI: 0.46; 0.64) on the farms and that of C. abortus was significantly correlated with the regions (0.01 CI: 0.00–0.02) and degree of abortion on the farms (−0.26 CI: −039; −0.14). At the individual level, a significant correlation was observed between the seroprevalence of T. gondii and region (−0.09 CI: −0.14; −0.04), species (0.07 CI: 0.01–0.14), sex (−0.11 CI: −0.18; −0.03), age (0.08 CI: 0.04–0.12) and physiological status (0.21 CI: 0.18; 0.24). For C. abortus seroprevalence, a significant correlation was observed with the regions (0.02 CI: 0.00; 0.03) and breed (0.01 CI: 0.01; 0.02) of small ruminants reared in the northern regions of Cameroon. These results could be used to implement efficient management measures to prevent and control T. gondii and C. abortus infection in goats and sheep in Cameroon.

Zoonotic abortive diseases represent a significant health and economic risk for livestock farmers and animal health stakeholders in Cameroon. This cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to October 2021 among 200 selected small ruminant farmers in the three northern regions of Cameroon. Data collection was done through semi-structured questionnaires administered by exchange with the herder and responses were coded and recorded on an Excel spreadsheet. The data were then analyzed with R software, version 2.13.0. An ANOVA test was used to assess significant differences in mean KAPP scores between regions. Pearson correlations were used to calculate the association between KAPP scores within regions. Small ruminant farmers surveyed had low mean scores for knowledge of abortive Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydia (0.1 ± 0.2), desirable attitude (0.32 ± 0.07), appropriate practice (0.36 ± 0.13) in managing abortion, and positive perception of zoonotic risks of Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydia in small ruminants (0.12 ± 0.33), respectively. KAPP was significantly (p<0.01) and positively associated with knowledge (r=0.98) and risk perception (r=0.99). However, attitudes (r=0.06), practices (r=0.05) and risk perception of toxoplasmosis (r=0.07) and abortive chlamydia (r=0.08) were not associated with farmers' knowledge. This study revealed significant knowledge gaps, low levels of desired attitudes, and high-risk behavioral practices. These results therefore call for capacity building of health professionals and farmers to better integrate the One Health concept in the management of neglected zoonotic diseases.

Toxoplasmosis and abortive chlamydia continues to spread and cause considerable economic losses in small ruminant farms. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence and highlight the risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus infection in small ruminants in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 small ruminant farms during a period from April to October 2021. A total of 1061 small ruminants were sampled and the sera obtained were analysed using the indirect multi-species ELISA test for toxoplasmosis and abortive chlamydia at the national veterinary laboratory. A questionnaire was constructed to collect information about flock management and animal risk factors possibly associated with Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus infection in goats and sheep. Overall, 329 small ruminants tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii and 45 for Chlamydia abortus with a prevalence of 31.01% (95% CI: 28.23 - 33.79) for toxoplasmosis and 4.24% (95% CI: 3.03 - 5.45) for chlamydia abortus, respectively. However, a significant co-infection of 1.82% (95% CI: 0.37 - 3.27) was obtained between Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus (p=0.02). Univariate analysis showed that region (p=0.0001), species (p=0.0001), sex (p=0.0002), age (p=0.0002) and breed (p=0.01) were the risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminant farms in Cameroon; while breed (p=0.0001) and the presence of abortion (p=0.0003) were identified as risk factors strongly associated with the seroprevalence of Chlamydia abortus . These results could be used to implement efficient management measures to prevent and control Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus infection in goats and sheep in Cameroon.

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonosis in Cameroon but it remains enzootic in some agro-ecological zones of the country. This review aims to describe the current status of this disease in domestic ruminants in Cameroon. In order to know the current status of this disease, a systematic and synthetic review was conducted on brucellosis in domestic ruminants in Cameroon. Different types of studies with serological results were reported and considered. A total of 16 studies from 1980 to 2020 were included in this synthetic review of the literature. Most of the studies were cross-sectional descriptive studies (p = 0.12). However, there were also studies with simplified survey methods, modelling approaches, stratified non-probabilistic and probabilistic surveys. 5095 cases of brucellosis infection were identified in the literature, for which the laboratory diagnosis allowed confirmation of brucellosis in the different species (indirect or direct Elisa in the majority of studies (41%), followed by rose Bengal (26%)). In most cases cattle represent 80% of the most studied species. Associated with this, the northern part of Cameroon was the preferred study area at 70% followed by the west (27%) and the south (3%). The biological material of choice for the studies was serum (75%). In addition, other biological materials (15%) were used. This systematic review has identified the tools used over the last 40 years to diagnose brucella infection in ruminants in Cameroon. However, it highlights the need for continuous monitoring of the spatio-temporal evolution of abortive microorganisms on farms.