Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in Small Ruminants and its Public Health Implications in Selected Districts of Central Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Tesfaye Sisay | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abebe Agonafir | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-04T10:16:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-08-04T10:16:30Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011-06-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | A cross-sectional study on toxoplasmosis in small ruminants and humans was conducted In Ambo, fentale and Adaa districts of Central Ethiopia between October 2010 and May 2011 to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in small ruminants and to assess its public health implications. A total of 2057 small ruminants were sampled, on which 1131 were sheep and 962 were goats. Serological surveys of antibodies to T. gondii were carried out using ELISA for sheep and goats sera and LAT for human sera. The overall prevalence of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants was 26.3% (95% CI= 24.3% - 28.2%). Higher prevalence was recorded in Adaa district (43.6 %) followed by Ambo (35.95 %) and Fentale (14.4 %). It was significantly different (P=O.OOO) between the study districts. The risk factors for infection 0f small ruminants with T. gondii were : agro-ecology (altitude), species, sex, age, presence of cat in the household and numbers of cats. Small ruminants in highland (OR=4.88 P<0.05) and midland (OR=3.29, P<0.05) areas were at a greater risk of T. gondii infection than in the lowland area. Prevalence was significantly higher in sheep (31.6%) than in goats (19.8%), (OR= 1.873, P<0.05) and the risk of infection in females (29.2%) was 2.3 times greater than in males (15.1 %). Statistically significant difference of prevalence was also observed between adult animals (> 1 year age) (28.6%) and young animals (14.3%), (OR=2.546, P=O.OOO). Animals were more prone to T. gondii infection when cats are present in the same household (OR= 1.357, 95% CI : 1.142- 1.653). History of abortion was significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence in sheep and goats. Of the 47 human sera analysed, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 31.9 %. The risk factors associated with seropositivity were raw/under cooked mutton consumption (OR= 6.782, P=0.04) and drinking unboiled water from river sources (OR= 6.538, P=0.04). More than 60% of the respondents had a habit of consumption of raw meat and milk and 53 .2% had close contact with cats. The public had very low awareness about the disease in animals and humans. The high seroprevalence in small ruminants reported in the current study is a good marker of high risk for human infections as they are important sources of meat in the area. Economic impact of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants should be investigated. Early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant and immune-suppressed individuals is helpful. In general, increasing the public awareness is imperative to prevent and control the diseases both in humans and animals. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8763 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Central Ethiopia | |
| dc.subject | Seroprevalence | |
| dc.subject | Small ruminants | |
| dc.subject | Toxoplasma gondii | |
| dc.title | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in Small Ruminants and its Public Health Implications in Selected Districts of Central Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |