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Library Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with zoonotic parasitic infections in small ruminants in the Greek temperate environment

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with zoonotic parasitic infections in small ruminants in the Greek temperate environment

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with zoonotic parasitic infections in small ruminants in the Greek temperate environment

Resource information

Date of publication
december 2013
Resource Language
ISBN / Resource ID
AGRIS:US201500141798
Pages
554-560

A cross-sectional serological study was carried out to screen the sheep and goat population of Thessaly, Greece for evidence of infection with Toxoplasma, Toxocara, Leishmania, and Echinococcus and to determine the risk factors related to herd characteristics, herd management practices, farmer status, and the bioclimatic variables associated with these zoonotic parasitic infections. A total of 540 sheep and goat serum samples were examined. The seroprevalence of infection in all examined animals was 24.5% for Toxoplasma, 32% for Toxocara, 0% for Leishmania and 85.9% for Echinococcus. The final logistic regression model showed that the species of small ruminant, herd size, anthelmintic treatment, class of anthelmintic treatment, grazing with other herds, educational level of farmer, elevation of farm location, and generalized land cover were associated with Toxoplasma gondii infections, while the species of small ruminant, farm type, anthelmintic treatment, class of anthelmintic treatment, rotation of grazing, age of farmer, elevation of farm location, and generalized land cover were associated with Toxocara canis infections. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 102 (28.3%) of 360 sheep and in 30 (16.8%) of 179 goats. Animals in small flocks (150–300 animals) had an approximately 0.42-fold lower risk of having positive cases of T. gondii among animals compared with large flocks (>300 animals). Antibodies to T. canis were found in 155 (42.9%) of 361 sheep and 18 (10.1%) of 179 goats. The later finding constitutes the first report of seropositive goats to Toxocara. The risk of positivity for T. canis was 7.71-fold higher in sheep than in goats. Geographically, animals from plain areas had 2.9 and 2.01-fold higher risk of having positive cases of T. gondii and T. canis respectively. The significant bioclimatic variables (p

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Authors and Publishers

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s)

Kantzoura, Vaia
Diakou, Anastasia
Kouam, Marc K.
Feidas, Haralambos
Theodoropoulou, Helen
Theodoropoulos, Georgios

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Data Provider
Geographical focus