Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in goats and sheep in Qatar

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a zoonotic infection with significant implications for animal and human health. Congenital transmission leads to reproductive issues affecting livestock productivity. This study aims to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies in goats and sheep using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT).

Blood samples were collected from 799 small ruminants (537 sheep and 262 goats) across seven municipalities in Qatar between November 2019 and November 2021. The samples were analyzed using MAT to detect T. gondii IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence was determined, and statistical analysis was performed to assess risk factors such as age, gender, location, and season.

Of the 799 samples, statistically, 23.0 % tested positive for T. gondii antibodies, with 18.4 % of sheep and 32.4 % of goats recorded seropositive. Age was identified as a significant risk factor for sheep, with older sheep showing higher seroprevalence, while no significant risk factors were found for goats. Other variables, such as sex, location, and season, showed no significant association.

This study, the first targeting small ruminants in the country, reveals notable differences in T. gondii prevalence between sheep and goats in Qatar. Age is a key risk factor in sheep, but further research is needed to explore other factors, especially in goats.