Toxoplasma antibodies in polo horses of Nigeria

A serological survey of Toxoplasma antibodies was carried out amongst horses used for polo game in Nigeria using the indirect haemagglutination test (IHA). A total of 70 horses from Kaduna, Kano and Jos that were assembled in Zaria for the annual national tournament were sampled. 26 (37.1%) of these were seropositive to T. gondii with the highest serological titre at 1:256. Out of the 52 local breeds, 20 (38.5%) were seropositive while of the 18 Argentine breeds, 6 (33.0%) were seropositive. No significant difference was found amongst the breeds. With the increasing interest in the game of polo in Nigeria and with the findings that T. gondii could cause encephalomyelitis in horses, the need to take precautionary measures so that these horses don't get infection cannot be over emphasized.