Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats detected by ELISA by direct and nested-PCR.

摘要

Infection rates of toxoplasmosis in sheep and goats detected with ELISA in conjunction with direct and nested PCR methods are reported. T. gondii DNA in blood, cotyledon and brain of fetuses was detected using 4 pairs of primers, 18SrRNA, ITS-1, (Tg1,Tg2) and (Tg3,Tg4). Antibodies against T. gondii were found in 18.3% serum samples. T. goondii DNA was detected in 69% fetal brain, 23% cotyledon and 14.7% blood samples. Prevalence was higher in sheep (24.8%) than goats (10.6%), in adult sheep and goats compared with young animals, and in females (19.2%), compared with males (10.5%). The presence of T. gondii in blood, fetal tissues and neonatal specimens suggests active or congenital infection.