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. 2014 Sep 15;205(1-2):57-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.07.001. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic sheep in Belgium

D Verhelst  1 , S De Craeye  2 , M Vanrobaeys  3 , G Czaplicki  4 , P Dorny  5 , E Cox  6
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic sheep in Belgium

D Verhelst et al. Vet Parasitol. .

Abstract

Even though infected sheep are a potential source of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans, information is lacking concerning the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep in Belgium. We examined 3170 serum samples for anti-Toxoplasma IgG in sheep by total lysate antigen (TLA) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG to T. gondii was demonstrated in 87.4% of the tested sheep and in 96.2% of the 209 tested flocks. The seroprevalences in Antwerp (65.2%) and Wallonia (68.6%) are statistically lower than in the other regions in Belgium (96.7-97.8%) (P<0.05). The present study is the first report that analyzed the prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep in Belgium and confirms the high prevalence of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in the sheep population.

Keywords: Belgium; Seroprevalence; Sheep; Toxoplasma gondii.

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