Annals of Biological Research
Abstract
Author(s): Reza Vajdi Hokmabad, Majid Khanmohammadi, Hossein Hamshemzadeh Farhang
Toxoplasmosis is a common Zoonotic disease with global distribution caused by an intra cellular
protozoan parasite named Toxoplasma gondii .The disease also causes economic losses in sheep
almost by abortion. As the climate of Azerbaijan province (Northwest Iran) is suitable for this
parasite life cycle, determination of the parasite prevalence has public health importance. The
aim of this study was detection of seroepidemiological prevalence of T.gondii in Miyaneh (a
county of East Azerbaijan province) sheep. In a Cross-sectional study, 181 sheep blood samples
from 9 different regions flocks were obtained from March to May 2011with a sterile venoject
from jugular vein. Samples were transferred to the laboratory and serums were separated. Sera
were tested for Tg antibodies using Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT) and Latex Agglutination
Test (LAT).The seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in sheep was 33.7% (61 samples) and 31.5%
(57 samples) with LAT and SFDT respectively. From 57 positive samples with SFDT, 45 samples
had antibody titers of 1:16, 9 samples 1:64, one sample 1:256 and 2 samples 1:1024. Regarding
SFDT as a golden test the sensitivity and specificity of LAT were 80% and 88% respectively. The
agreement between two tests was 88%. Positive and negative predictive values of LAT were
75% and 90%, respectively. The results showed that LAT is a very good method for
Toxoplasmosis seroepidemiological screening.
