Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common meat-born protozoan parasites that cause congenital infection, abortion, and stillbirth in humans and animals. sheep are one of the important sources of meat production in Gilan Province. Toxoplasmosis in patients with intact immune systems is usually asymptomatic, but can be life-threatening in patients with a weak immune system. Gilan is divided into three regions of plains with moderate climatic conditions, hillsides with semi-humid climates, and heights with cold mountainous weather. Climate situations are involved in the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. According to the geographical location and age of the animals, the samples were divided into different groups.

The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and molecular detection to determine the genetic diversity of T. gondii in ovine aborted fetus in Gilan Province, North of Iran.

In a current cross-sectional study, 400 sheep sera samples were tested for T. gondii-IgG antibody by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA). In addition, molecular detection was performed on 44 brain samples of ovine aborted fetuses by nested pcr method using GRA6 gene . Also, genotyping was conducted with GRA6 gene on positive isolates by PCR RFLP method.

The results showed that T. gondii-IgG antibody was detected in 166 sera samples of sheep (41.5%). The highest frequency (72.7%, n=56) was observed in the age group of >4 years, which the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0001) in comparison with other groups. Also, the seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in plains (53.9%) than those of hillsides and heights (P = 0.0001).Moreover , molecular detection showed that the GRA6 gene was detected in 30 brain samples of ovine aborted fetuses (68.18%). PCR RFLP showed that all of the isolates were belonging to the type II T.gondii genotype.

consequently The prevalence of T. gondii infection in Gilan Province is high, indicating a significant relationship with geographical location and age of animals.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Genotyping, Abortion , Sheep.

References:

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2.Danehchin L, Razmi G, Naghibi A. Isolation and Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Strains in Ovine Aborted Fetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province. Korean J Parasitol. Iran. 2016; 54(1): 15-20