Seroprevalences of brucellosis, Q-fever and toxoplasmosis in slaughter livestock in Trinidad

Abstract

Serum samples obtained from livestock (cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and water buffaloes) slaughtered at various slaughter houses in Trinidad were screened for agglutinins to three zoonosis causing pathogens. Of a total of 751 sera tested, 2 (0.3%) originating from chickens were positive for Brucella abortus agglutinins using the Rose Bengal test (RBT), but both were negative by the tube serum agglutination test (SAT). Thirty-six (4.8%) of 749 sera were positive for Coxiella burnetii agglutinins by the capillary agglutination test (CAT) with the highest prevalence, 11.3%, detected in pig sera and the lowest, 0%, found in sheep and goat sera. The difference was not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; chi 2). Of the 131 sera tested, 26 (19.8%) contained Toxoplasma gondii agglutinins with prevalences ranging from 5.5% in pigs to 42.9% in goats. It was concluded that livestock in Trinidad are free of B. abortus infections, but C. burnetii and T. gondii infections exist and are being documented for the first time in the island.