Serological and molecular studies of ovine and human toxoplasmosis with a trial of treatment of infected ewes

The aims of the present study were to diagnose toxoplasmosis in pregnant ewes and women serologically and molecularly, treat naturally infected ewes, and diagnose congenital toxoplasmosis. Blood samples were taken from 30 and 60 pregnant ewes and women, respectively, and used for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis through Latex agglutination test (LAT). Seropositive samples were confirmed by PCR for detection of acute infection. Ten infected pregnant ewes were classified into two groups. The first group was treated with sulfadimidine 33.3%, 200 mg (0.6 ml) / kg.b.wt, and the other group was treated with normal saline. At titers ≥ 1:64, serological diagnosis indicated that 16 (53.33%) ewes and 29 (48.3%) women were seropositive and the seroprevalence increased in older ewe and younger women. Positive LAT samples were used for amplification of DNA and showed bands at 193 bp, analogues to that of the RH strain in 12 (40%) and 15 (25%) blood samples of ewes and women, respectively. All treated ewes with sulfadimidine 33.3% delivered healthy lambs with normal gestation period, whereas untreated ewes delivered 4 abortuses and 3 stillbirths. The tissue cysts were demonstrated microscopically in stained smears from tissues of dead fetuses. Local strain of T. gondii was isolated through intra peritoneal injection in mice from tissues of abortuses and stillbirths and maintained in the lab. The DNA of both RH (a virulent strain) and the local strains expressed diagnostic amplified DNA bands at 193 bp, indicating a zoonotic importance of T. gondii and the role of sheep a as source of human infection.

Keywords:

Toxoplasmosis , Ewes , Women , Pregnant , LAT , PCR , Sulfadimidine ,