FIRST REPORT OF SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND NEOSPORA CANINUM IN DAIRY SHEEP FROM HUMID PAMPA, ARGENTINA.

HECKER, YANINA P.; MOORE, DADÍN P. ; MANAZZA, JORGE A. ; UNZAGA, JUAN M. ; SPÄTH, ERNESTO J. A. ; PARDINI, LAIS L. ; VENTURINI, MARÍA C. ; ROBERI, JOSÉ L. ; CAMPERO, CARLOS M.

TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 vol. 45 p. 1645 - 1647

0049-4747

The aim of this study was to describe the occurrenceof antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neosporacaninum in dairy sheep from the Humid Pampa region,Argentina. Blood samples from 704 dairy sheep belongingto six flocks were collected. Using a cut off titer of 1:50, anindirect fluorescence antibody test was used. Antibodies toT. gondii or N. caninum were detected in 17.3 % (n=122)and 3 % (n=21), respectively. All the flocks had at least oneseropositive animal to T. gondii but two of them had noseropositive sheep to N. caninum. Fifty-two of 122 (42.6 %)positive samples to T. gondii had antibody titers higher than1:400. There was a significantly higher proportion of T.gondii seropositive animals in females and older sheep(p<0.05). Ten of 21 (52.3 %) positive samples to N.caninum had antibody titers higher than 1:400. This is thefirst report of seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum indairy sheep from Humid Pampa, Argentina. Further researchis required for a better understanding of the role of toxoplasmosisand neosporosis in dairy sheep in Argentina.