Evaluation of frequency of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii,Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. and transmission routes in sheep from Humid Pampa, Argentina

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to describe the frequency of ovine specific antibodies toToxoplasma gondii,Neospora caninumandSarcocystisspp. and to estimate different transmission routes of these infections. One hundred and thirty Texel sheep and their 117 Texel lambs were included in the study. Serum samples were tested for antibodies toT.gondii,N.caninumandSarcocystisspp. using IFAT.Toxoplasma gondiiseroprevalence was 10.00% in sheep (IC95%: 4.80–15.20%), being higher in adult sheep (≥12 year) than in younger sheep (OR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10–1.50).N.caninumandSarcocystisspp. seroprevalences were 1.54% (IC95%: 0.00–5.70) and 72.09% (IC95%: 67.70–82.70), respectively, with no association between age and seropositivity in sheep (P>0.05).T.gondiiseroprevalence in lambs was 4.27% (IC95%: 0.61–7.94). No association betweenT.gondiiserological status in sheep and their lambs was detected (P= 0.07). TwoT.gondiiandSarcocystisspp. seropositive lambs were euthanized andT.gondiiandSarcocystisspp. DNA was detected by PCR in their tissues. In conclusion, the increase ofT.gondiiseropositivity in relationship with sheep age and the lack of association between sheep-lamb serological status, suggest that horizontal infection is the main transmission route in this flock as reported before. Due to the low number ofN.caninum-seropositive ewes no assumptions can be done about the impact of this parasite in this flock. According with previous reports, the main transmission route forSarcocystisspp. in this species in the present study was horizontal.