Prevalence of agglutinating antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants of the Madrid region, Spain, and identification of factors influencing seropositivity by multivariate analysis
Investigation published in Veterinary Research Communications
January 1st, 1996
A seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats was conducted in the Madrid region of Spain. Sera were collected from 60 herds, for which farming management information and other relevant data for their characterization were also obtained through a questionnaire. The seroprevalence was 11.8% (64 out of 541), using the modified (2-mercaptoethanol) direct agglutination technique with a 1:64 cut-off titre. The relationship between seropositivity and the variables in the questionnaire was assessed by multivariate analysis. Four variables were found to be significantly associated with seroprevalence. Two of them, the presence of cats and a previous history of abortion outbreaks in the farm, were factors known to be linked with toxoplasmosis, indicating the validity of the serological data. Seropositivity was also related to a lack of replacements in the preceding year. Proximity to other farms appeared to be a protective factor negatively associated with seropositivity, probably because it was an indicator of proximity to an urban area and the availability of local sanitary facilities
Mainar RC., de la Cruz C., Asensio A., Dominguez L. and Vazquez-Boland JA.
 | Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Zoonosis Emergentes, de Baja Prevalencia y Agresivos Biológicos (NED). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Laboratorio Regional de Sanidad Animal. Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio. Comunidad de Madrid. |
