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Serological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Turkoman horses in the North Khorasan Province, Iran

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Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. The infection is observed in an unusually wide range of warm-blooded animals, including most of the livestock and humans. Many studies have shown high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in man and animals in Iran. The present study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Turkoman horses in the North Khorasan Province. During 2011–2012, 100 blood samples from horses were collected and tested for antibodies against toxoplasmosis using indirect fluorescent antibody test. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was detected in 14 % (14) horses. The antibodies titres were detected in the range of 1:20–1:160 dilution. The lowest and highest frequencies of toxoplasmosis were observed in the age groups of <1 year and 1–10 years, respectively (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between toxoplasmosis frequencies and gender and usage of horses. With regard to the high frequency of toxoplasmosis in the sampled horses, attention must be paid to the animal health for the control and prophylaxis of the disease.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Dr. Abdoljalil Ghiadi the manager of Turkoman horse breeding company (THBC) for his hospitality. We also thank to Mohammad Abedi and Dr. Ali Sarani for their hepling to samples collection and Mr H. Eshrati and Mr G.A. Azari for their technical assistance. This study was supported by a grant VPRTFM-22992.2 from The Vice President Research and Technology of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran

    G. R. Razmi, V. Abedi & S. Yaghfoori

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  1. G. R. Razmi
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  2. V. Abedi
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  3. S. Yaghfoori
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Correspondence to G. R. Razmi.

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Razmi, G.R., Abedi, V. & Yaghfoori, S. Serological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Turkoman horses in the North Khorasan Province, Iran. J Parasit Dis 40, 515–519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0536-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0536-1

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