Rafael Suazo Cortez - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
David Itzcoatl Martinez Herrera - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
Violeta Trinidad Pardío-Sedas - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
Carlos Ricardo Cruz-Vázquez - Technological Institute El Llano, Aguascalientes, Mexico
José Francisco Morales Alvarez - National Institute of Agricultural and Livestock Research, National Center for Disciplinary Research in Animal Microbiology, Cuajimalpa, Mexico
Gabriela Sánchez-Viveros - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Veracruz, Xalapa, Mexico
María Elena Galindo-Tovar - Faculty of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Universidad Veracruzana, Córdoba, Mexico

Toxoplasma gondii is widely prevalent in sheep and their products pose a risk to public health. The aim of this study was to identify the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in sheep in Veracruz State, Mexico. The study was cross-sectional and it was carried out in thirteen municipalities distributed in three regions of Veracruz State. A total of ۴۱۴ blood samples were collected from four districts of Veracruz State and analyzed for T. gondii antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total seroprevalence was ۳۵.۹۰% (۱۴۹/۴۱۴; ۹۵.۰۰% CI = ۳۱.۴۰-۴۰.۸۰). Seroprevalence by the municipality was ۱۰.۵۰% to ۸۵.۷۰% and for the district was ۲۸.۸۰% to ۴۷.۸۰%, respectively. Age, breed and productive status were identified as risk factors associated with T. gondii infection significantly. The infection by T. gondii is widely present in the districts of the Veracruz State with a high seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Epidemiology, serology, Sheep, toxoplasmosis