First Seroepidemiological Study of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in Southern Tunisia

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common zoonotic parasites worldwide, with infections in humans as well as in all mammals, including dromedaries, that affect reproductive health, leading to malformations and abortions. In the current study, we estimated, for the first time in Tunisia, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies and its associated risk factors in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. A total of 248 sera samples were collected from dromedaries living in Médenine and Tataouine governorates, South Tunisia. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was estimated to be 29.8 ± 2.9% (74/248) with a significantly higher seroprevalence rate in dromedaries from Médenine (52.5 ± 7.9%; 21/40) compared to Tataouine (25.5 ± 3%; 53/208); it was also higher in dromedaries kept in intensive farming systems (55 ± 11.1%; 11/20) compared to extensive systems (27.6 ± 3%; 63/228), in non-pregnant females (39 ± 4%; 57/146) compared to pregnant ones (16.7 ± 3.7%; 17/102), and in those in contact with cats (66.7 ± 8.6%; 20/30) compared to those with no contact with cats (24.8 ± 2.9%; 54/218). The present study should be followed by others to explore the role of dromedaries in the epidemiological cycle of T. gondii in Southern Tunisia.