Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Official Journal of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah

Molecular and Serological Detection of The Presence of Toxoplasma gondii in Intermediate Hosts (Women and Sheep) in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Hussein Imran Kareem

College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq

https://doi.org/10.29079/qjvms.2023.183453
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a widespread parasite. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in ewes and women in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq. Fifty-five blood samples were collected from women (16 non-pregnant, 20 pregnant, and 19 women with abortion), who attended the Maternity and Children Hospital, while 51 blood samples were collected from ewes (28 non-pregnant, 18 pregnant, and 5 ewes with abortion) from different areas of Al-Diwaniyah City. The latex agglutination and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) tests were employed to examine the presence of the Toxoplasma gondii. The results showed that T. gondii antibodies were detected in 40% of all tested women; however, 37.5%, 30%, and 52.63% of non-pregnant, pregnant, and women with abortion, respectively, revealed the presence of these antibodies. The outcomes revealed that there were no significant (p˃0.05) differences between the group of non-pregnant women and pregnant women, while the abortion group recorded a significant (p<0.05) difference with both groups. The findings of the ewes showed that T. gondii antibodies were detected in 33.33% of all tested ewes; however, 35.71%, 33.33%, and 20% of non-pregnant, pregnant, and ewes with abortion, respectively, revealed the presence of these antibodies. There were no significant (p˃0.05) differences between the group of non-pregnant and pregnant ewes, while the abortion group recorded significant (p<0.05) differences with both groups. The RT-PCR was significantly (p˂0.05) effective in detecting the presence of T. gondii in the blood samples of ewes and women as 9 (17.7%) and 15 (27.3%), respectively. The present study indicates high percentages of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women and ewes.

Keywords

Abortion
ewes
Toxoplasma gondii
RT-PCR
women
Crossmark
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