Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Sheep in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

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 (P<0.05). The relationship between age and sheep toxoplasmosis showed that the prevalence was the highest (38.88%) in age group of 16-28 months and lowest (8.51%) in age group of 68-80 months. Significant differences in prevalence were observed between age groups (P<0.05). The relationship between body weight and sheep toxoplasmosis revealed that the prevalence of T. gondii was highest (20.85%) in weight group of 26-36 Kg and lowest (10.71%) in weight group of >47 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. (C) 2010 PVJ. All rights reserved