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Study on ovine abortion associated with Toxoplasma gondii in affected herds of Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran based on PCR detection of fetal brains and maternal serology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2011

M. RASSOULI ,
G. R. RAZMI ,
M. R. BASSAMI ,
A. R. MOVASSAGHI  and
M. AZIZZADEH
M. RASSOULI
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
G. R. RAZMI*
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Center of Excellence in Ruminant Abortion and Neonatal Mortality, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
M. R. BASSAMI
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Institute of Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
A. R. MOVASSAGHI
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Center of Excellence in Ruminant Abortion and Neonatal Mortality, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
M. AZIZZADEH
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
*
*Corresponding author: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Azadi Square, Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, 9177948974, Iran. Tel: +985118803700. Fax: +985118763852. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite, is one of the causative agents of ovine abortion, as reported in many countries. Different techniques are being used to detect this pathogen in infected ovine fetuses. One of the most sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques is Nested-PCR amplification of the B1 target gene of the organism. In total, 200 brain samples of aborted ovine fetuses and maternal sera submitted from different parts of Khorasan Razavi province, Iran were investigated to track the role of Toxoplasma gondii in ovine abortion by a slightly modified Nested-PCR and IFAT assays, respectively. Among all samples, 27 (13·5%) were PCR-positive and 31 (15·5%) were IFAT-positive and the Toxoplasma-induced abortion prevalence calculated was 8·8% to18·2% with 95% confidence interval. Results show that high levels of congenital transmission may occur in 27/31(87%) of pregnancies with an excellent logical agreement (ĸ=0·9) between 2 different tests. According to the results of this study, the Nested-PCR employed in this investigation could be recommended as an applied routine test for the routine examination and confirmation of Toxoplasma gondii-induced ovine abortion.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondiiabortionsheepNested-PCRIran
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 138 , Issue 6 , May 2011 , pp. 691 - 697
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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