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Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in female cattle in south-west of Iran

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Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a significant disease in livestock and humans. In Iran, studies shows that T. gondii infection in humans is relatively high and prevalence is associated mainly with consumption of undercooked meat or meat products. We have examined 450 serum samples from female cattle distributed over all Ahvaz, the center of Khouzestan province, south-west of Iran. IgG antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test using whole tachyzoites of T. gondii, and found in 71 (15.77%) of 450 cattle with titers of 1:25 in 38, 1:50 in 18, 1:100 in 11, 1:200 in three and 1:400 in one. Titers of antibodies were decreased in cattle over 2 years old. These results indicate that T. gondii infection in cattle of Khouzestan is relatively considerable, but not very high and consumption of beef may be a source of infection for humans in south-west of Iran.

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Abbreviations

LAT:

Latex agglutination test

MAT:

Modified agglutination test

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Shahid Chamran University for project number 678. The authors wish to thank the vice-chancellor for research of the Shahid Chamran University for the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran

    Hossein Hamidinejat, Masoud Ghorbanpour, Leily Nabavi & Mohammad Hossein Razi Jalali

  2. Department of Clinical Sciencies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran

    Mohammad Rahim Haji Hajikolaie

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  1. Hossein Hamidinejat
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  2. Masoud Ghorbanpour
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  3. Leily Nabavi
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  4. Mohammad Rahim Haji Hajikolaie
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  5. Mohammad Hossein Razi Jalali
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Correspondence to Hossein Hamidinejat.

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Hamidinejat, H., Ghorbanpour, M., Nabavi, L. et al. Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in female cattle in south-west of Iran. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 899–903 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9505-6

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