Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the center of Iran

Authors: HOSSEIN HAMIDINEJAT, MASOUD GHORBANPOUR, ARIA RASOOLI, MOHAMMAD NOURI, SEYEDHOSSEIN HEKMATIMOGHADDAM, MOHAMMAD MEHDI NAMAVARI, MEHDI POURMEHDI-BOROJENI, ALIREZA SAZMAND

Abstract: During the period from December 2008 to September 2009, we examined 254 serum samples (164 in hot-dry weather and 90 in cold-dry weather) from dromedary camels distributed all over Yazd Province, in the center of Iran. IgG antibodies were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and Neospora agglutination test (NAT) using whole tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, incorporating 2-mercaptoethanol, for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 37 (14.56%) of 254 camels with titers of 1:20 in 7, 1:40 in 6, 1:80 in 8, 1:160 in 1, 1:200 in 4, 1:400 in 6, 1:800 in 4, and 1:1600 in 1 camel. Out of 254 (3.94%) camel sera, 10 had antibodies to N. caninum with titers of 1:20 in 6 and 1:40 in 4 camels. There was no difference between the presence of antibodies for both parasites in male and female camels or in different weather conditions, but occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was greater in older camels.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, dromedary camel, Iran

Full Text: PDF