Toxoplasmosis in sheep. Influence of various factors on the antibody contents
Waldeland, H.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 18(2): 237-247
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 327772 Document Number: 122647
Toxoplasma antibodies were estimated by a micro-modification of the dye test for up to 3 years after the initial stage of infection. During the first 2 years, the titres in ewes which had aborted were significantly higher than in ewes with normal pregnancies. The investigation indicated that dye test titres more than or equal to 1:512 usually occur during the first stage of infection, and are mainly found in ewes with clinical toxoplasmosis. The dye test titres in lambs due to antibodies transferred with the colostrum were markedly higher than in their dams during the first 2 days after birth. Later the titres declined, and at the age of about 2 months only 3 of 29 lambs had higher titres than their dams. After the age of about 3 months maternally derived antibodies were not detected. Dye test titres in sheep are little influenced by conditions that may affect the defence mechanism. Sheep with haemoglobin type B had significantly higher dye test titres than sheep with haemoglobin types A and AB when examined less than about 6 months after they had acquired the infection. No association was found between the susceptibility of Toxoplasma infection and the haemoglobin type. [AS].