Toxoplasma gondii is not an important contributor to poor reproductive performance of primiparous ewes from southern Australia: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background Toxoplasma gondii causes reproductive losses in sheep worldwide, including Australia. The reproductive performance of primiparous ewes is typically lower than for mature multiparous ewes, and younger ewes are more likely to be immunologically naïve and therefore more susceptible to reproductive disease if T. gondii infection occurs during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of infection with T. gondii on the reproductive performance of primiparous ewes in southern Australia using a prospective cohort study. This will inform the need for targeted control strategies for T. gondii in Australian sheep. Results Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity using indirect ELISA was detected at 16/28 farms located across southern Australia. Apparent seroprevalence was lower in primiparous ewes (1.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6, 1.8) compared to mature multiparous ewes (8.1%, 95% CI 6.0, 10.5; P < 0.001). Toxoplasma gondii seroconversion during the gestation and lambing period was confirmed for 11/1097 (1.0%, 95% CI 0.5, 1.7) of pregnant primiparous ewes that failed to raise a lamb, and 1/161 (0.6%, 95% CI 0.1, 2.9) primiparous ewes with confirmed abortion. Toxoplasma gondii was not detected using qPCR in tissue samples from aborted or stillborn lambs (n = 35) from a subset of six farms. Conclusions Low seroprevalence and low incidence of seroconversion during gestation suggests that toxoplasmosis was not an important contributor to reproductive losses in primiparous ewes on farms located over a wide geographical area in southern Australia.

Lower Reproductive Rate and Lamb Survival Contribute to Lower Lamb Marking Rate in Maiden Ewes Compared to Multiparous Ewes

“…More recently, Chlamydia pecorum has been associated with abortions and stillbirth for maiden ewe flocks in Australia [ 35 , 36 ]. A recent study reported T. gondii, Neospora caninum and Coxiella burnetii were not important contributors to foetal and lamb mortality maiden ewe flocks on farms in southern Australia [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Immunological naïvety is considered a risk factor for infectious reproductive diseases, and therefore maiden ewes have a higher risk for infectious causes of abortion because they have had less time to be exposed to infection and develop immunity before pregnancy [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”