Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Sheep in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from 518 sheep of nine localities of three districts (Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Khanewal). The samples were tested by using latex agglutination test (LAT) and commercial ELISA method. The overall prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep was 19.88%. In male sheep, the prevalence was higher (30.15%) than in female sheep (18.46%), the difference was significant (P47 Kg, the difference was non significant. The infection of T. gondii was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Kacchi breed compared to Lohi breed of sheep (22.72% versus 15.7%). The results of the present investigation suggest that the T. gondii parasite is widely spread and may be the cause of sheep abortion in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Keywords

• Age
• Body weight
• Prevalence
• Sex Sheep
• breed
• T. gondii