Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii exposure among horses in Korea

J Vet Med Sci. 2014 Dec;76(12):1663-5. doi: 10.1292/jvms.14-0353. Epub 2014 Sep 18.

Abstract

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antibodies by ELISA in horses reared in Korea. Serum samples were collected from 2009 through 2013 from 816 horses reared in Korea. Analysis was performed using a commercial toxoplasmosis ELISA kit to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies. Overall, 24 out of 816 horses (2.9%) were seropositive for T. gondii. The result was analyzed by age, gender, breed and region. Significant differences were observed according to breed and region (P<0.05). This is the first nationwide serological investigation of T. gondii in horses reared in Korea. The study results reveal that T. gondii occurs nationwide in Korean horses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology*
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Species Specificity
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan