Sero-epidemiology, Spatial
Distribution and Phylogenetic Analysis of
Toxoplasma gondii in Goats
of Malakand Division of Pakistan
Ahmad Irshad1*, Shumaila Noreen1, Wali Khan2
and Akhtar Rasool3
1Department
of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan; 2Department of Zoology, University of Malakand,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan;
3Center
for Animal Sciences and Fisheries, University of Swat, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
zoologist640@gmail.com
Abstract
The aim of the study was to use serological techniques to determine the
seroprevalence and phylogenetic position of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii
infecting goats of Malakand division of Pakistan. Toxoplasma gondii is
an apicomplexan protozoan parasite infecting one-third of the population of the
world, including humans, animals, birds, etc.
Still, no information on T. gondii
infection in goats regarding serological and the phylogenetic investigations are
reported from the Malakand division.Randomly,
450 goat blood samples were collected from various districts. Risk factor
information was recorded from the owners by questionnaire.
ELISA
test
was used for the detection of T. gondii infection in goats, and positive
samples were subjected to a PCR test using the ITS-1 gene. The overall
seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in goats was 23.11% (104/450). The
prevalence of parasite was higher in
female goats (25.69%), non-aborted goats (25.85%), open grazing animals
(25.38%), and the summer season months of June (42.55%), July (30.23%), and
August (31.14%). Among different districts,
the highest seroprevalence was found in district
Lower Dir (38%).
The BLAST analysis of
partial sequences of PCR products
of T. gondii based on ITS-1 showed
99% similarities with reported genotypes found in cattle and goats in Punjab and
Brazil.
It was concluded that a large number of goats may be positive for T. gondii in
the study area. Risk factors like gender, age, area, etc. are strongly
associated with the infection, which may play a key role in the spreading of the
disease in animals and humans as well.
To Cite This Article:
Irshad A, Noreen S,
Khan W and Rasool A, 2024. Sero-epidemiology,
spatial distribution and phylogenetic analysis of
Toxoplasma gondii in goats of Malakand division of Pakistan.
Pak Vet J, 44(2): 442-448. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.152