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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in shepherd dogs from Sarab District, Northwest Iran

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to compile initial epidemiological data on the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Sarab area. We evaluated the titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies by latex agglutination test (LAT; titer > 1:64) serological test in 39 (10.1 %) serum samples from shepherd dogs exhibiting clinical signs of infectious diseases. The largest age group was 2–4 years, with 170 (44.3 %) dogs out of which only 21 dogs (12.3 %) were seropositive and the lowest age group was 4–6 years, with 87(22.6 %) out of which only 3 dogs (3.4 %) were seropositive. The highest rate of infection was seen in Ardaha village, with 11 (27.5 %) dogs. The lowest rate of infection was detected in Khaki and Asbfroshan villages, with only one dog. According to dog breed, the seropositivity rate of T. gondii was 14.3 % in pure breed dogs and 11.2 % in mongrel dogs. No sex or breed predispositions to T. gondii infection were detected during this serological assays (P ≤ 0.05). The antibody titres of T. gondii ranged from 1:64 to 1:2,084. 39 Seropositive dogs with titers of 1:64 in 10, 1:128 in 13, 1:256 in 5, 1:512 in 6, 1:1,024 in 3, and 1:2,084 in 2 dog. In the present study, there was no correlation between antibody titers and, age or location. Our results show that presence and exposure of shepherd dogs to T. gondii in Sarab city confirm that dogs are exposed to T. gondii and play an important role in the epidemiology of T. gondii of this region.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to express our thanks to Dr. hoghoghi rad for technical and Research Council of Islamic Azad University, Marand branch.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran

    Majid Khanmohammadi

  2. Department of Pediatric, Children’s Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Shalaleh Ganji

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  1. Majid Khanmohammadi
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  2. Shalaleh Ganji
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Correspondence to Majid Khanmohammadi.

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Khanmohammadi, M., Ganji, S. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in shepherd dogs from Sarab District, Northwest Iran. Comp Clin Pathol 23, 431–435 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1637-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1637-9

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