Seroprevalence of Specific Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Brucella spp. in Sheep and Goats in Egypt

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and brucellosis are devastating diseases causing infectious abortion and, therefore, substantial economic losses in farm animals. Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are caused by the intracellular protozoan parasites <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (<i>T. gondii</i>) and <i>Neospora caninum</i> (<i>N. caninum</i>), respectively. Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by numerous <i>Brucella</i> species in multiple hosts. Toxoplasmosis and brucellosis are also considered foodborne zoonotic diseases. In the current study, specific antibodies to <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum,</i> in addition to those to <i>Brucella</i> spp., were detected to gain a better understanding of the epidemiological situation for these three pathogens. Sheep and goat sera from Egypt (<i>n</i> = 360) of animals with and without a history of abortion were tested using commercial ELISAs. Seropositivity rates of 46.1%, 11.9%, and 8.6% for <i>T. gondii</i>, <i>N. caninum</i>, and <i>Brucella</i> spp., respectively, were revealed. Mixed infections with <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>Brucella</i> spp. (4.4%), <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i> (4.2%), <i>N. caninum</i> and <i>Brucella</i> spp. (1.4%), and even some triple infections (0.6%) have been observed. Animals with a history of abortion had a significantly higher seroprevalence for <i>Brucella</i> spp. infection than those without abortion (12.6%; 28/222 vs. 2.2%; 3/138) (<i>p</i> = 0.0005; Odds ratio = 1.9-21.8), while none of the other pathogens showed a similar effect. This result suggests brucellosis as a possible cause of abortion in the study population. However, the high seroprevalence for <i>T. gondii</i> and <i>N. caninum</i> revealed in our study warrants further investigations.