Original Research

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic animals in southeastern South Africa

Whatmore M. Tagwireyi, Eric Etter, Luis Neves
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 86, No 1 | a1688 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v86i1.1688 | © 2019 Whatmore M. Tagwireyi, Eric Etter, Luis Neves | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 September 2018 | Published: 05 November 2019

About the author(s)

Whatmore M. Tagwireyi, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Eric Etter, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, CIRAD, UMR Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risque et Ecosystèmes (ASTRE), Montpellier, France; and, ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
Luis Neves, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a major neglected parasitic infection occurring in settings of extreme poverty in Africa. Apart from causing reproductive failure in animals it is also a significant zoonotic concern. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats, chickens, goats, sheep and pigs in the southeast of South Africa, of which little is known. Sera was obtained from 601 domestic animals including 109 cats, 137 chickens, 128 goats, 121 sheep and 106 pigs managed under different production systems in different agro-ecological regions and evaluated by the Toxoreagent, a latex agglutination test for T. gondii antibody detection. Household-level and animal-level data were collected by interviewing animal owners and/or herders using a closed-ended questionnaire. The study revealed an overall farm seroprevalence of 83.33% (125/150 farms) with the highest rate of infection for the parasite found in sheep with 64.46% (78/121), followed by goats with 53.91% (69/128), pigs with 33.96% (36/106), cats with 32.11% (35/109 cats) and chickens with 33.58% (46/137). The risk factors that were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) to different species of seropositivites were age, location, climate, animal production system, rodent control, seropositive cat, cat-feed access and cat faecal disposal. The relatively high seroprevalence of T. gondii detected in this region suggests that domestic animals may pose a substantial public health risk through the consumption of T. gondii-infected raw meat as well as via contact with cat faeces.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondii; latex agglutination test; seroprevalence; domestic animals; South Africa

Metrics

Total abstract views: 5391
Total article views: 4578

 

Crossref Citations

1. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection of goats and sheep in the Khomas region of Namibia
A Samkange, S Chitanga, GN Tjipura-Zaire, VG Mutjavikua, JW Smith, L Neves, T Matjila
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association  vol: 94  issue: 1  first page: 123  year: 2023  
doi: 10.36303/JSAVA.548

2. Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in northeastern areas of Colombia: Seroprevalence and risk factors
Lorena C. Martínez-Rodriguez, Gabriel Andres Tafur-Gómez, Blanca Lisseth Guzman-Barragan
Parasite Epidemiology and Control  vol: 10  first page: e00147  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00147

3. WITHDRAWN: Economic and public health importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep: the last decade
J.P. Dubey, F.H.A. Murata, C.K. Cerqueira-Cézar, O.C.H. Kwok, C. Su
Veterinary Parasitology: X  first page: 100028  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2020.100028

4. Economic and public health importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep: 2009–2020
J.P. Dubey, F.H.A. Murata, C.K. Cerqueira-Cézar, O.C.H. Kwok, C. Su
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 286  first page: 109195  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109195

5. Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in Northwest Ethiopia
Sisay Esubalew, Zewdu Seyoum (Zed) Tarekegn, Wudu Temesgen Jemberu, Shimelis Dagnachew Nigatu, Mulugeta Kussa, Abrham Ayele Tsegaye, Girma Birhan Asteraye, Basazinew Bogale, Mersha Chanie Kebede
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports  vol: 22  first page: 100456  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100456

6. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among Five Wild Rodent Species from Five Provinces of China
Qing-Bo Lv, Ao Zeng, Lin-Hong Xie, Hong-Yu Qiu, Chun-Ren Wang, Xiao-Xuan Zhang
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases  vol: 21  issue: 2  first page: 105  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2658

7. Potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Zewdu Seyoum Tarekegn, Haileyesus Dejene, Agerie Addisu, Shimelis Dagnachew, Olaf Horstick
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases  vol: 14  issue: 12  first page: e0008944  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008944

8. Epidemiologic significance ofToxoplasma gondiiinfections in chickens (Gallus domesticus): the past decade
J. P. Dubey, H. F. J. Pena, C. K. Cerqueira-Cézar, F. H. A. Murata, O. C. H. Kwok, Y. R. Yang, S. M. Gennari, C. Su
Parasitology  vol: 147  issue: 12  first page: 1263  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1017/S0031182020001134

9. Serological Evidence and Coexposure of Selected Infections among Livestock Slaughtered at Eastern Cape Abattoirs in South Africa
K. D. Mazwi, F. B. Kolo, I. F. Jaja, R. P. Bokaba, Y. B. Ngoshe, A. Hassim, L. Neves, H. van Heerden, Ahmed Majeed Al-Shammari
International Journal of Microbiology  vol: 2023  first page: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1155/2023/8906971

10. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in goats
Arlan Araujo Rodrigues, Sara Silva Reis, Elinalva da Silva Moraes, Edson Matheus Alves do Nascimento Araújo, Anderson de Moura Zanine, Thiago Vinicius Costa Nascimento, João Luis Garcia, Ivo Alexandre Leme da Cunha
Acta Tropica  vol: 230  first page: 106411  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106411

11. Seroepidemiology, molecular detection, and isolation attempts of Toxoplasma gondii in dairy goats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Igor Falco Arruda, Patricia Riddell Millar, Fernanda da Silva Lopes, Caroline Martins da Costa, Mario Felipe Alvarez Balaro, Lucas Almeida Zangirolami, Raissa Cristina Ferreira Ramos, Thamires Francisco Bonifácio, Julia Araujo Panza Ribeiro, Maria Regina Reis Amendoeira
Veterinary Research Communications  vol: 49  issue: 2  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10623-6

12. An investigation into Toxoplasma gondii at the human-livestock-wildlife interface, South Africa
Refilwe P. Bokaba, Veronique Dermauw, Darshana Morar-Leather, Pierre Dorny, Louis van Schalkwyk, Luis Neves
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research  vol: 91  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v91i1.2130

13. WITHDRAWN: All about Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs: the past decade
Jitender P. Dubey, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cézar, Fernando H.A. Murata, Oliver C.H. Kwok, Dolores Hill, Yurong R. Yang, Chunlei Su
Veterinary Parasitology  first page: 109182  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109182

14. Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in shelter cats in Erzurum province of Turkey
Başak HANEDAN, Cahit BABÜR, Muhammed Sertaç EROĞLU, Selin Sinem SÜMBÜL, Ömer ALKAN
Etlik Veteriner Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi  vol: 34  issue: 2  first page: 151  year: 2023  
doi: 10.35864/evmd.1359291

15. All about Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs: 2009–2020
Jitender P. Dubey, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cézar, Fernando H.A. Murata, Oliver C.H. Kwok, Dolores Hill, Yurong Yang, Chunlei Su
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 288  first page: 109185  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109185

16. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats of North West Province, South Africa
Mthokozisi Masombuka, Malekoba B.N. Mphuthi, Yusuf B. Ngoshe, Gloria Mokolopi, Nomakorinte Gcebe
BMC Veterinary Research  vol: 20  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03939-7

17. Serological and Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Among Slaughtered Domestic Ruminants in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia
Tsedalu Yirsa, Zewdu Seyoum, Mequanente Dagnaw, Nega Berhane
Veterinary Medicine and Science  vol: 11  issue: 6  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1002/vms3.70647

18. Seroprevalence and assessment of public awareness of Brucella spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus in small ruminants from selected smallholder commercial farms of Zimbabwe
Dey F. Tarusikirwa, Barbara Blacklaws, Caroline L. Trotter, Sherin Reda Rouby
PLOS ONE  vol: 18  issue: 6  first page: e0287902  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287902

19. Toxoplasma gondii induced abortions in a goat herd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gabriela Oliveira Pereira, Asheley Henrique Barbosa Pereira, Marilene de Farias Brito, Caroline Argenta Pescador, Daniel Guimarães Ubiali
Ciência Rural  vol: 51  issue: 4  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20200568

20. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp.
Marianna Andreopoulou, Gereon Schares, Martin Koethe, Ilias Chaligiannis, Pavlo Maksimov, Maike Joeres, Garance Cardron, Tina Goroll, Smaro Sotiraki, Arwid Daugschies, Berit Bangoura
Parasitology Research  vol: 122  issue: 1  first page: 97  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07701-6

21. All about toxoplasmosis in cats: the last decade
J.P. Dubey, C.K. Cerqueira-Cézar, F.H.A. Murata, O.C.H. Kwok, Y.R. Yang, C. Su
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 283  first page: 109145  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109145

22. The first seroepidemiological study on Toxoplasma gondii in backyard pigs in Myanmar
Yu Nandi Thaw, Tin Aye Khaing, Kyaw San Linn, Soe Soe Wai, Lat Lat Htun, Saw Bawm
Parasite Epidemiology and Control  vol: 14  first page: e00216  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00216

23. Seroprevalence, risk factors, and serological cross-reactivity for diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in goats in India
Bhavana K. Hebbar, Megha Roy, Pallabi Mitra, Kailas Chavhan, Sandeep Chaudhari, Shilpshri Shinde, Abhijit S. Deshmukh
Microbial Pathogenesis  vol: 173  first page: 105780  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105780

24. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats from different geographical regions of the world: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Md Ahaduzzaman, Tanjila Hasan
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases  vol: 69  issue: 6  first page: 3790  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1111/tbed.14753

25. Occurrence of Taenia species and Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered in Bujumbura city, Kayanza and Ngozi provinces, Burundi
Salvator Minani, Emma Spiessens, Alyssa Labarrière, Pascal Niyokwizera, Anastasie Gasogo, Jean-Bosco Ntirandekura, Chiara Trevisan, Sarah Gabriël
BMC Veterinary Research  vol: 20  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04445-6

26. Prevalence of selected infectious agents in Swedish cats with fever and/or anemia compared to cats without fever and/or anemia and to stable/stray cats
Gunilla Ölmedal, Linda Toresson, Mary Nehring, Jennifer Hawley, Sue Vande Woude, Michael Lappin
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica  vol: 67  issue: 1  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1186/s13028-025-00807-8

27. Public health and economic importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in goats: The last decade
J.P. Dubey, F.H.A. Murata, C.K. Cerqueira-Cézar, O.C.H. Kwok
Research in Veterinary Science  vol: 132  first page: 292  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.06.014

28. Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Animals and Humans in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Adejumoke O. Omonijo, Chester Kalinda, Samson Mukaratirwa
Pathogens  vol: 11  issue: 2  first page: 183  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11020183