Evaluation of frequency of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. and transmission routes in sheep from Humid Pampa, Argentina

HECKER, YANINA P.; FERNANDO MOGABURU MASSON; JOAQUÍN I. ARMENDANO; JUAN CORA; CARLOS FLORES OLIVARES; IGNACIO GUAL; LAIS PARDINI; DADÍN P. MOORE; GASTÓN MORÉ; GERMÁN J. CANTÓN

ACTA PARASITOLOGICA

VERSITA

Lugar: Varsovia; Año: 2018

1230-2821

The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of ovine specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum andSarcocystis spp. and to estimate different transmission routes of these infections. One hundred and thirty Texel sheep and their117 Texel lambs were included in the study. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to T. gondii, N. caninum and Sarcocystisspp. using IFAT. Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence was 10.00% in sheep (IC95%: 4.80?15.20%), being higher in adult sheep(≥12 year) than in younger sheep (OR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10?1.50). N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. seroprevalences were 1.54%(IC95%: 0.00?5.70) and 72.09% (IC95%: 67.70?82.70), respectively, with no association between age and seropositivity in sheep(P>0.05). T. gondii seroprevalence in lambs was 4.27% (IC95%: 0.61?7.94). No association between T. gondii serological statusin sheep and their lambs was detected (P = 0.07). Two T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. seropositive lambs were euthanizedand T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. DNA was detected by PCR in their tissues. In conclusion, the increase of T. gondii seropositivityin relationship with sheep age and the lack of association between sheep-lamb serological status, suggest that horizontalinfection is the main transmission route in this flock as reported before. Due to the low number of N. caninum-seropositiveewes no assumptions can be done about the impact of this parasite in this flock. According with previous reports, the main transmissionroute for Sarcocystis spp. in this species in the present study was horizontal.