Occurrence of anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies in bovine and ovine meat juice slaughtered In Duhok abattoir, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract EN

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

It has the capacity to infect all warm-blooded animals, in some it causes acute life-threatening disease and in others, it may manifest itself as a disease of pregnancy.

This is a preliminary study was performed to the investigation of anti-T.gondii antibodies in meat juice samples collected in Duhok abattoir, Kurdistan region-Iraq.

A total of 92 meat juices samples (ovine 37 and bovine 55) each of 92 sample were examined by LAT and ELISA test, from April, 2012 to March 2013.

40/92 (43.4%) of meat juice found to be positive by LAT(38.18% of cattle and 51.35% of ovine) and 18/92 (19.5%) by ELISA test (16.36% samples of cattle and 24.32% of ovine) were positive with higher prevalence in sheep than in cattle.

The high prevalence rate of anti-T.

gondii antibodies was observed in this study, which is usually represent the actual picture of the prevalence of T.

gondii in bovine and ovine meat consumed in Duhok city and need good strategies of food hygienic standard.