Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Domestic Animals of District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study was conducted in to find out the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in domestic animals of District Charsadda. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a unicellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii which is cosmopolitan in distribution among the animals including domestic animals and human beings. Very little information is available about the infection rate of toxoplasmosis in domestic animals of District Charsadda, Pakistan. A total of 374 blood samples were collected from cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats and were tested by Latex agglutination test, out of which (79.7%) were found seropositive. Out of 260 females, (82.69%) were found infected while in 114 males (78.80%) were found infective. A high prevalence of (81.65%) was detected in age group above one year. Individual sex wise prevalence also revealed that females were more positive as compared to males. In male buffaloes, (76.92%) were positive while in females, (75.67%) were detected positive. In male goats (72.41%) were positive while in case of females, (84.78%) were found infective. The infection rate was higher in female sheep (91.42%) as compared to male sheep (84.78%). In male cows (69.23%) were detected seropositive while in females cows the infection rate was (73.77%). This increased rate of infection may be due to free access of cat to drinking water and other food sources as well as warm and humid conditions of the area.