Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in semen of breeding dogs from southeastern Iran.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an important public health and reproductive disease. T. gondii could cause significant damage in breeding kennels due to abortion and other reproductive disorders. This study investigates the molecular presence of T. gondii in semen samples from all male breeding dogs in a kennel with complaints of reproductive disorders, in which a modified agglutination test was used for screening toxoplasmosis. A total of 36 purebred male dogs (31 % seropositive) were selected. Semen samples were collected and tested for T. gondii infection using a highly sensitive REP-based nested PCR assay. T. gondii was detected in 8.33 % (3 out of 36) of the semen samples. One of the three positive samples also exhibited orchitis with significant sperm abnormalities, including reduced motility and tail defects. The present study showed nested PCR could be a reliable detection method for T. gondii in semen samples. There was no relation between T. gondii detection in semen and reproductive disorders. Further studies are necessary to confirm the sexual transmission of this parasite through semen, which could be important in breeding kennels.