Journal article
Toxoplasma gondii is not an important contributor to poor reproductive performance of primiparous ewes from southern Australia: A prospective cohort study
BMC Veterinary Research, Vol.18(1), Art. 109
2022
Abstract
Background
Toxoplasma gondii causes reproductive losses in sheep worldwide, including Australia. The reproductive performance of primiparous ewes is typically lower than for mature, multiparous ewes, and younger ewes are more likely to be immunologically naïve and therefore more susceptible to reproductive disease if T. gondii infection occurs during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of infection with T. gondii on the reproductive performance of primiparous ewes in southern Australia using a prospective cohort study. This will inform the need for targeted control strategies for T. gondii in Australian sheep.
Results
Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity using indirect ELISA was detected at 16/28 farms located across southern Australia. Apparent seropositivity to T. gondii was lower in primiparous ewes (1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6, 1.8) compared to mature, multiparous ewes (8.1, 95% CI 6.0, 10.5; P < 0.001). Toxoplasma gondii seroconversion during the gestation and lambing period was confirmed for 11/1097 (1.0, 95% CI 0.5, 1.7) of pregnant primiparous ewes that failed to raise a lamb, and 1/161 (0.6, 95% CI 0.1, 2.9) primiparous ewes with confirmed mid-pregnancy abortion.
Conclusions
Low frequency of detection of T. gondii seroconversion during gestation and low frequency of seropositivity to T. gondii suggests that toxoplasmosis was not an important contributor to reproductive losses in primiparous ewes on farms located over a wide geographical area in southern Australia.
Details
- Title
- Toxoplasma gondii is not an important contributor to poor reproductive performance of primiparous ewes from southern Australia: A prospective cohort study
- Authors/Creators
- T. Clune (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA. Lockwood (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Hancock (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA.N. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityM. Bruce (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Beetson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA.J. Campbell (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneE. Glanville (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneD. Brookes (Author/Creator) - The University of MelbourneC. Trengove (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideR. O’Handley (Author/Creator) - The University of AdelaideC. Jacobson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- BMC Veterinary Research, Vol.18(1), Art. 109
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Identifiers
- 991005545289807891
- Copyright
- © 2022 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Animal Production and Health; Food Futures Institute
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.217 Parasitology - Malaria, Toxoplasmosis & Coccidiosis
- 1.217.1038 Toxoplasma Gondii
- Web Of Science research areas
- Veterinary Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science