| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5803162 | Veterinary Parasitology | 2014 | 5 Pages |
â¢87.4% of the tested sheep had IgG to T. gondii.â¢Seroprevalences in Antwerp and Wallonia are statistically lower than in other regions in Belgium.â¢First sero-epidemiological study about T. gondii in Belgium.â¢High prevalence of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in the sheep population.
Even though infected sheep are a potential source of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans, information is lacking concerning the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep in Belgium. We examined 3170 serum samples for anti-Toxoplasma IgG in sheep by total lysate antigen (TLA) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgG to T. gondii was demonstrated in 87.4% of the tested sheep and in 96.2% of the 209 tested flocks. The seroprevalences in Antwerp (65.2%) and Wallonia (68.6%) are statistically lower than in the other regions in Belgium (96.7-97.8%) (PÂ <Â 0.05). The present study is the first report that analyzed the prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep in Belgium and confirms the high prevalence of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in the sheep population.
