Sero-Prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Herbivorous Livestock in Northern Iran

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis that distributed in worldwide caused by the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In present Study, Sero-Prevalence of T. gondii in Cattle, sheep and goats were investigated in three adjacent geographical areas within Mazandaran province in northern Iran. Serum samples were collected randomly from 384 Cattle, 384 sheep and 384 goats in three counties; Chalous with a humid subtropical climate, Babol with sub-humid climate and Savadkouh with cold semi-arid steppe climate. The samples were tested by using Sabin-Feldman Dye Test for Toxoplasma antibodies. The prevalence was in Cattle 10.94%, in sheep 27.08% and 20.31% in goats. The overall prevalence in sheep was significantly higher than the goats and Cattle (P<0.001). In addition, the prevalence in sheep was greatly increased with a humid subtropical climate (P<0.001). As a result, the high prevalence of T. gondii have seen in this area shows that herbivorous livestock have an important role in transmission of infection to humans by eating uncooked meat. In addition, the economic losses caused by T. gondii infection in these animals is striking.