&lt;i&gt;Toxoplasma gondii&lt;/i&gt; in small ruminants in Northern Italy - prevalence and risk factors

Gazzonis, Alessia Libera; Veronesi, Fabrizia; Cerbo, Anna Rita Di; Zanzani, Sergio Aurelio; Molineri, Giulia; Moretta, Iolanda; Moretti, Annabella; Fioretti, Daniela Piergili; Invernizzi, Anna; Manfredi, Maria Teresa

doi:10.5604/12321966.1141370

Cited by 58 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Almost 90% (95% CI 81.92-93.32) of the flocks included in our study had at least one seropositive sheep. Proportions of sheep flocks defined positive that did not significantly differ from our estimate from Estonia have been reported from northern Italy (87.5%; 95% CI 74.3-100.0; p = 0.853) (Gazzonis et al 2015), southern Spain (84.7%; 95% CI 75.0-91.7; p = 0.453) (García-Bocanegra et al 2013), and Sweden (77.8%; 95% CI 65.3-87.4; p = 0.076) (Lunden et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Large-Scale Epidemiological Study onToxoplasma gondiiSeroprevalence and Risk Factors in Sheep in Estonia: Age, Farm Location, and Breed Associated with Seropositivity

Tagel

Lassen

Viltrop

et al. 2019

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of major veterinary and public health importance. The parasite is common in many host species in Estonia, however, information about the seroprevalence in the local sheep population is lacking. We estimated T. gondii seroprevalence and evaluated a limited selection of possible risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in sheep raised in Estonia. Sera from 1599 sheep from 122 flocks, collected during 2012-2013, were diluted to 1:40 and screened for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies using a commercial direct agglutination test. The cutoff titer for seropositivity was 40. A total of 667 of the 1599 sheep were T. gondii seropositive, yielding an apparent seroprevalence estimate of 41.71% (95% confidence interval 39. 31-44.14). At least one seropositive sheep was detected on the majority (88.53%) of the farms. T. gondii seroprevalence was significantly lower in lambs (age <12 months) than in adults (age ‡ 12 months) (11.11% and 42.16%, respectively). The seroprevalence increased steeply with age in the first years of life. A multivariable random-effects logistic regression model identified being an adult (odds ratio [OR] 9.55) and being from a farm located on the islands (OR 2.51) as risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity, while being of Texel breed appeared as a protective factor (OR 0.34) when compared with the Estonian Blackhead breed. Exposure to T. gondii was widespread among the investigated sheep. Undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk from sheep from Estonia should be considered possible sources of T. gondii infections to other hosts, including humans.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Large-Scale Epidemiological Study onToxoplasma gondiiSeroprevalence and Risk Factors in Sheep in Estonia: Age, Farm Location, and Breed Associated with Seropositivity

Tagel

Lassen

Viltrop

et al. 2019

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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“…Serological studies on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies show that toxoplasmosis is globally widespread among sheep, with seroprevalence values ranging between 5-87.5% (RAMZAN et al, 2009;WU et al, 2011;HAMILTON et al, 2014;GAZZONIS et al, 2015;HUTCHINSON;SMITH, 2015). Similar serological studies conducted in Brazil have also reported seroprevalence values in sheep ranging between 3.7-35.3% SILVA et al, 2003;PINHEIRO JÚNIOR et al, 2009;SOCCOL et al, 2009;PEREIRA et al, 2012;NUNES et al, 2015;SILVA et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Epidemiological analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Lúcio

Pimentel

Clemente

et al. 2017

SCA

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The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep from the Agreste and Sertão regions of Pernambuco in Brazil and to analyze the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection. A total of 250 sheep from 14 sheep farms across the state of Pernambuco were used as samples. Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) was used for the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies, adopting a cut-off dilution of 1:64. In order to determine risk factors, farm owners were subjected to a questionnaire form enquiring about the aspects of operational hygiene and sanitary systems. Thirty-four of the 250 samples (13.60%, 95% CI= 9.61% -18.48%) in the study were determined to be positive, and 10 out of 14 (71.42%) of the sheep farms showed at least one seropositive animal. Titers for the 34 positive samples presented 8 samples at 64 (23.53%), 3 at 128 (8.82%), 3 at 256 (8.82%), 13 at 512 (38.23%), and 7 at 1024 (20.60%). After regression logistics, only the supply of silage (p= 0.009; OR=2.79, CI 95%= 1.29 -6.0) was confirmed as a risk factor. The study was able to conclude that infection with T. gondii was prevalent in the sampled sheep farms in the state of Pernambuco, and that it was imperative to adopt preventive measures in order to effectively curb the identified risk factors. Key words: Infection. Sheep. Pernambuco. Toxoplasmosis. ResumoObjetivou-se com este estudo determinar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e analisar os fatores de riscos associados à infecção em ovinos no Agreste e Sertão do estado de Pernambuco. Para tal foram utilizadas 14 propriedades de ovinos totalizando 250 animais. Utilizou-se para a pesquisa Lúcio, E. C. et al.de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii a técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI), adotando-se ponto de corte de 1:64. No estudo dos fatores de risco foram aplicados questionários com perguntas objetivas sobre os aspectos do manejo higiênico-sanitário. Das 250 amostras analisadas 34 (13,60%, IC 95% -9,61%; 18,48%) foram positivas; 71,42% (10/14) das propriedades apresentaram ao menos um animal positivo. Em relação à titulação, observou-se que das 34 amostras positivas, oito apresentaram título de 64 (23,53%); três títulos 128 (8,82%); três títulos 256 (8,82%); 13 títulos 512 (38,23%); e sete (20,60%) apresentaram título de 1024. Após regressão logística apenas a variável fornecimento de silagem (p=0,009; OR=2,79 IC 95%=1,29 -6,0) foi confirmada como fator de risco. Conclui-se que a infecção por Toxoplasma gondii está presente nas criações de ovinos na região estudada, sendo necessário à adoção de medidas preventivas e de controle que atuem nos fatores de risco identificados neste estudo. Palavras-chave: Infecção. Ovelha. Pernambuco. Toxoplasmose.

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“…alt-text: Table 3 Days post-partum alt-text: Fig. 1 Toxoplasma gondii infection is a sanitary issue having a high economic impact on goat farming; particularly in the study area, Northern Italy where high seroprevalence rates were recorded in small ruminant farms, with 41.7 and 59.3% seropositive goats and sheep, respectively (Gazzonis et al, 2015). In addition, as a proof of the high environmental spread of the pathogen, in the same study area, T. gondii showed to be widely spread also in other domestic (Gazzonis et al, 2015;Gazzonis et al, , 2018b;Villa et al, 2018) and wild animals (Gazzonis et al, 2018c, d), with values varying according to investigated host species and on considered farming conditions.…”

Section: Molecular Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…: 46.7 ± 22.9) were included in the study. The herd was selected among previously surveyed farms: it resulted indeed positive for T. gondii infection (herd prevalence: 61.2%) and negative for Neospora caninum infection in two previously published epidemiological serosurveys carried out in ovine and caprine farms in Lombardy (Gazzonis et al, 2015).…”

Section: Herd Description and Animal Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected goats: Monitoring of specific IgG levels in serum and milk during lactation and parasitic DNA detection in milk

Gazzonis

Zanzani

Villa

et al. 2019

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

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<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in small ruminants in Northern Italy - prevalence and risk factors

Cited by 58 publications

References 27 publications

Large-Scale Epidemiological Study onToxoplasma gondiiSeroprevalence and Risk Factors in Sheep in Estonia: Age, Farm Location, and Breed Associated with Seropositivity

Large-Scale Epidemiological Study onToxoplasma gondiiSeroprevalence and Risk Factors in Sheep in Estonia: Age, Farm Location, and Breed Associated with Seropositivity

Epidemiological analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected goats: Monitoring of specific IgG levels in serum and milk during lactation and parasitic DNA detection in milk

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