Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella Species in Sheep

Abstract

Numerous infections are accountable for abortion in small ruminants, resulting insignificant economic repercussions, as well as possessing the potential risk for humans.The current study was undertaken to assess the identification of different risk factors aswell as the seroprevalence associated with sheep abortion in Neospora caninum,Toxoplasma gondii, and Brucella species infections. Ninety serum samples from sheepwere examined using ELISA to detect antibodies against Toxoplasma and Neospora. Theresults revealed that 54(60%) and 7(7.7%) were seropositive for T. gondii and N.caninum, respectively. For these samples the Rose Bengal test was used to detectantibodies against Brucella species. The results showed that 26(28.8%) wereseropositive serologically to Brucella species. There were 17(18.8%) samples showedmixed infection of T. gondii and B. melitensis, 4(4.4%) were mixed showed infection withT. gondii and N. caninum, and 1(1.1%) was mixed infection between N. caninum and B.melitensis. Only one (1.1%) sample showed mixed infection for the three infectionstogether. The prevalence of miscarriage in sheep was observed. The seropositivity oftoxoplasmosis, Neosporosis, and Brucellosis in sheep needs further study to elude thetransmission to human especially those of zoonotic importance, so attention should beconsidered to more investigations concerning these diseases in animals and humans inthe studied area.