Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of in sheep in Erzurum province, Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey.

Background: Toxoplasmosis causes economic losses due to abortion, neonatal death and reproductive diseases in infected sheep. Erzurum is one of the most important cities in Turkey where sheep farming is done. The aim of this study was to evaluate seroprevalence of and related risk factors in sheep brought to the slaughterhouse in Erzurum province of Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey.

Methods: Nine-hundred and sixty sheep brought to slaughterhouse from Erzurum center and districts were used in this study. The data on age, breed, abortion history of sheep and whether or not they had contact with cats were recorded. The presence of antibodies was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit in blood samples taken from sheep just before slaughter.

Results: According to the study results, 44 (4.58%) of 960 sheep were found to be seropositive. Seroprevalence was found to be highest in the ≥2<3 age group with 5.29% (P>0.05), and it was more common in Akkaraman breed compared to Morkaraman breed (P<0.01). It was determined that 43 (97.73%) of the 44 seropositive sheep had contact with cats (P<0.01) and 12 of them (27.27%) had abort history.

Conclusion: The study results identify the presence of in the sheep from Erzurum province of Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey.