Serological studies on toxoplasmosis in Zagazig slaughterhouse
el Ridi, A.M.; Nada, S.M.; Aly, A.S.; Habeeb, S.M.; Aboul-Fattah, M.M.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 20(2): 677-681
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-0583 PMID: 2230326 Document Number: 357030
Blood samples collected from 84 farm animals (19 cows, 15 buffaloes, 17 sheep, 14 goats and 19 camels) in Zagazig and Kanayat slaughterhouses, Egypt, and from 130 people (43 butchers, 21 vets, 25 technicians and 41 abattoir workers) working at the Zagazig abattoir and 50 workers at a spinning mill (controls) were examined for Toxoplasma by IHAT. 21 (25%) of the animals were seropositive; 15 of these animals had antibody titres ranging from 1:6-1:128 and 6 had titres from 1:256 to 1:512. The highest prevalence was in sheep (29.4%), followed by goats (28.6%), camels (26.3%), cows (21.1%) and buffaloes (20.0%). 25 (19.2%) of the humans working at the abattoir were seropositive; 16 had titres ranging from 1:16-1:128 and 9 from 1:256 to 1:512. Abattoir workers and butchers showed the highest prevalence rates (24.4% and 18.6%), followed by technicians (16.0%) and vets (14.3%). Only 12% of the control group were seropositive.