Infections in Animals and Humans in Southern Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: is an apicomplexan parasite with zoonotic importance worldwide especially in pregnant women and immunocompromised people. This study is set to review the literature on infections in humans and animals in southern Africa.

Methods: We extracted data regarding   infections from published articles from southern Africa from 1955 to 2020 from four databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCO Host, and Science Direct. Forty articles from eight southern African countries were found eligible for the study.

Results: This review revealed a paucity of information on . infection in southern African countries, with an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 7-29%). Domestic felids had a prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 7-54%), wild felids 79% (95% CI: 60-94), canids (domestic and wild) 69% (95% CI: 38-96%), cattle 20% (95% CI: 5-39%), pigs 13% (95% CI: 1-29%), small ruminants (goats and sheep) 11% (95% CI: 0-31%), chicken and birds 22% (95% CI: 0-84%), and humans 14% (95% CI: 5-25%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) constituted the most frequently used diagnostic tests for .

Conclusions: We recommend more focused studies be conducted on the epidemiology of . in the environment, food animals and human population, most especially the at-risk populations.