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 seroprevalence 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 abortion. Toxoplasma gondii was not detected using qPCR in tissue samples from aborted or stillborn lambs (n = 35) from a subset of six farms.
Conclusions
Low seroprevalence and low incidence of seroconversion during gestation 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.
Modifiable healthcare factors affecting 28-day survival in bloodstream infection: a prospective cohort study
