Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia

Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia Tsedalu Yirsa, Zewdu Seyoum, Nega Berhane, Mequanente Dagnaw Amare This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background The intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide zoonotic cyst-forming parasite that affects nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans. There are no studies that confirm the presence of this parasite in Ethiopian food animals, particularly in the study area, aside from seroprevalence reports. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use molecular and serological methods to identify this infections in slaughtred domestic ruminants. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to October 2020 by collecting a total of 320 blood and matching tissue samples from purposively selected domestic ruminants. These study participants' infections were identified using the nested polymerase chain reaction and the latex agglutination test. The relationship between risk factors and the incidence of the seropostivity was also ascertained through the use of logistic regression. Results The overall serological, first polymerase chain reaction and nested polymerase chain reaction findings of this infection in slaughtered animals were 180 (56.2%), 68 (21.2%) and 34 (10.6%), respectively. Moreover, 62 (62%), 58 (52.7%) and 60 (54.5%) of latex agglutination tests; 34 (34%), 24 (21.8%) and 10 (9.1%) of first polymerase chain reaction and 20 (20%), 14(12.5%) and 0 (0%) with nested polymerase chain reaction were also found in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. Significant associations were observed between this infection seropositivity and sex and age within sheep and goats; origins with goats, and breed and ages within cattle ( P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, there were also fair concordant between latex agglutination and first polymerase chain reaction tests on slaughtered animals ( Kappa : 0.230). Conclusions Generally, these comparative tests were verified the presence of this infection in killed animals, which increased the risk to the public's health among human consumers, especially expectant mothers. Therefore, the best way to prevent this disease should be to avoid eating raw foods. Additional research on this pathogen's genotyping will also be supported. Gondar town Latex agglutination Nested polymerase chain reaction Slaughtered animals Toxoplasma gondii Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 1. INTRODUCRTION Zoonotic foodborne parasite diseases are the leading source of health concerns globally. Toxoplasmosis, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite caused by Toxoplasma gondii, affects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans and birds, and causes high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients ( 1 , 2 ). Domestic cats and wild felids are the only significant final hosts, and this parasite is transmitted primarily through excreted resistant sporozoites in the environment. However, non-felids from practically all animals and humans are employed as intermediary hosts in the transmission of T. gondii infection ( 1 ). Humans and animals are primarily infected by consumed undercooked or raw meat with live tissue cysts, or contaminated with food, water, and environment with sporulated oocysts shed in the faces of sick cats or congenitally by tachyzoites ( 1 , 2 ). Consumption of cysts found in contaminated raw fruits and vegetables can potentially transmit this parasite ( 3 ). Nonetheless, transmission of T. gondii infection happens occasionally in cases of tachyzoites present in organ and tissue donations, blood transfusions, and ingesting unpasteurized milk ( 3 , 4 ). Furthermore, inadvertent inoculations expose research lab staff who work with infected blood ( 3 ). Toxoplasma gondii can cause serious complications and symptoms in immunosuppressed patients who are asymptomatic throughout their entire life without reading a clinical sign ( 3 , 5 ). When immunosuppressed women are reactivating of this infection acquired before pregnancy, as well as women recently exposed to T. gondii during pregnancy, transplacental toxoplasmosis can also occur ( 1 ). In the case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer in immunocompromised patients, T. gondii is also responsible for life-threatening diseases such as encephalitis or death due to latent reinfection ( 6 ). Toxoplasmosis is also a parasitic disease that is seen in different age groups of meat-producing animals in the world, and causes reproductive defects such as miscarriage and stillbirth, as it is more common in sheep and goats ( 1 , 3 , 7 ). The diagnosis of T. gondii has performed by microscopic, serological, bioassay and molecular methods, or by some combination of these above assays using by either finding this parasite or its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or indirectly by detecting antibodies of different isotypes ( 1 , 8 ). There are also three common strains, or lineages, known as type I, II, and III. These strains have different genetic characteristics and can be found in different areas and animals. Types II and III are the most common strains that infect both animals and humans in Europe, North America, and Africa. Type I is more likely to cause infections in people with weakened immune systems and is more harmful to mice than types II and III. In central Ethiopia, researchers have found these strains in tissue cysts in sheep and goats ( 9 ). Toxoplasmosis is a very important disease caused by a parasite that can be found in food. The World Health Organization says it is a big problem, with 10.3 million cases reported between 2010 and 2015( 10 ). It is seroprevalence in cats that are found up to 100% in the world, which is the most important for the transmission of this parasite by shedding environmental resistance oocyst in the surroundings of animals and humans ( 1 ). Up to one–third of the human population is also chronically exposed and mostly occurred in humid and warmer areas within the endemicity rate of 10–70%( 1 , 3 ). Moreover, it is also the major cause of reproductive failure in sheep and goats in the world, including Ethiopia ( 1 ). Many authors have been reported the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic ruminants across the globe ( 11 – 14 ). Among African nations, Ethiopia have also highly variable seroprevalent of T. gondii from different agro-ecological areas within their regions in humans ( 3 , 15 ); domestic ruminants ( 16 – 19 ); cats ( 20 , 21 ) and chickens ( 22 ). Besides to the above-limited seroprevalenc of T. gondii reported from various parts of Ethiopia, 53.13% of nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) results is the best tests than the direct agglutination (DAT) (30.58) and microscopic cyst detection (MCD) (28.82%) of T. gondii DNA in brain tissues of bioassayed mice from seropositive of sheep and goats in Central Ethiopia ( 23 ). This polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified a little quantity of minced dead or alive tissue cysts is the best sensitive; specific and rapidly detecting T. gondii at any point of infection. It does not depend on the immune response of the infected hosts which is unlike serological tests. These indicate more or less of the seronegative tests and seropositive tests are positive and negative by DNA detection techniques, respectively ( 24 ). This is imputable to the availability of getting this parasite from a low amount of minced tissue is difficult. Nevertheless, murine bioassays have been used more amount of live representative samples and sensitive than the molecular test for detecting this infection in tissue samples, but it has also expensive and unethically ( 8 , 25 , 26 ). Therefore, on that point have limited report about the molecular detection, and its comparison within conventional tests of T. gondii to confirm the presence of this infection in the illustration samples from Ethiopia, especially in the work region. Toxoplasma gondii is the most prevalent and zoonotic significance disease in Ethiopia. It causes reproductive problems in small ruminants and humans, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Moreover, it has direct and indirect economic crises in animals as well as the one- third of the human population of the globe is too affected by this parasite particularly in low-income African countries like Ethiopia ( 1 ). There is a little seroprevalence of T. gondii reported in animals and humans as easily as there is no previous story of molecular detection of T . gondii DNA in tissue samples directly from food animals in Ethiopia, especially in the study area so far. However, the cultural habit of consuming raw or under-cooked meat and milk contain tissue cysts, and any contaminated water, vegetables and fruits within sporulated oocyts shed in the faces of infected cats; the disease is more harbors in tissue than blood for various times; the geographical and climatic change, and the management systems are might be the predispose factors for the occurrence of this disease in the study site ( 3 ). Therefore, this study aimed to detect T. gondii by the joint of serological and molecular assays for confirming its presence in the representative samples. This study would have more conclusive results and forward appropriate prevention and control measures of this disease in animals and humans. 2. Methods and materials 2.1. Study setting, design and period This study was carried out in Gondar town from September 2019 to October 2020. Gondar town is located in the Central Gondar Zone, approximately 727 kilometers from the capital city of Addis Ababa in Northwest Ethiopia, and 182 kilometers from Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara regional state. The town is positioned at a latitude and longitude of 12°36’N and 37°28’E, with an altitude of around 2,220 meters above sea level. The average temperature in Gondar town is 20 °c, and the average annual rainfall ranges from 880 to 1172 millimeters ( 27 ). The town has a relative humidity varying from 60–70% during the rainy season and from 30–40% during the dry time of the year. As the Central Statistical Authority (CSA) reported, the town has 500, 788 populations (300,000 male and 200,788 female) in Gondar town ( 28 ). Currently, the town has a private Elfora abattoir. The area is also found under Woynadega , agro-climatic zone ( 28 ). The agriculture system in the Central Gondar zone is a mixed type (crop-livestock production). It includes Gondar town and Gondar Zuria districts. The Gondar Zuria districts have also 1287 square kilometers, a human population of 278, 835 and a livestock population of 140, 287 cattle, 42, 287 sheep, 38, 895 goats, 26, 287 donkeys, 339 mule, 1, 903 horses ( 29 ), In the these districts, many people are also involved in the public service occupation including; smallholder farming, supplying food animals and animal products to the residential areas and the abattoir. A cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 2019 to October 2020 with the aim to determine the seroprevalence and detect DNA of T. gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants intended for human consumption in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. 2.2. Population and sample The study subjects were slaughtered domestic ruminants obtained from Gondar Elfora abattoir and local slaughterhouses in the Gondar town that were destined for human consumption. The origins of these slaughtered animals were mostly from Gondar-zuria, Wogera, Metema, Chilega and Armachiho. Relevant individual animal breed, sex, age, body condition, and origin of these animals were registered before slaughtered by asking the abattoir attendants and managers. Ages of sheep and goats above six months were included in this study by observation of the erupted permanent incisors. These animals’ ≤ 1 year were considered as young while those above one year were considered an adult. Cattle less than 5 years were too adult and greater than 5 years as old ( 30 ). The body conditions of these slaughtered animals were also determined as poor, medium and good based on the guidelines of Nicolson and Butterworth ( 31 )). Moreover, all tested sheep and goats were indigenous breeds. During this study period, no cows or heifers were also slaughtered in the abattoir. A total of 320 blood and matching heart tissue samples were collected from slaughtered animals for the combined serological and molecular detection of T. gondii infection. A purposive sampling was used for selecting study animals. Elfora abattoir and local slaughterhouses were also selected purposively within their willingness. The sample sources were also influenced by their willingness and accessibility of slaughtered animals. 2.3. Data collection and laboratory methods 2.3.1. Sample collection methods and transportations After proper routine ante mortem examination of the slaughtered animals, approximately 5–10 ml of whole blood and correspondingly 30 grams (g) of heart tissues were collected for each animal from sheep, goat and cattle. And so, the whole blood sample was gathered by the labeled plain tube during exsanguinations at the slaughter line for these slaughtered animals. Heart tissue samples were also collected after slaughtered these animals in labeled sterile plastic bags and scissors. And then, the samples were sent separately within a cold ice box to the molecular biology laboratory of the department of biotechnology for molecular detection of T. gondii infection. The whole blood samples were left for a few hours at room temperature to allow clotting and centrifuge by 4000 RPM for 5 minutes to separate serum and it was placed in eppendrof tube. Both samples of serum and tissues were stored at -20°C before being utilized for a long time. 2.3.2. Toxo-latex agglutination test from animals blood Toxo-latex agglutination test kit was used to assay the serum of the study subjects according to the manufacturer’s recommendations (SPINREACT, S.A/S.A.U, GIRONA, SPAIN). 2.3.3. DNA extraction of T. gondii from animals tissue About 30 g of tissue sample was collected for isolation of the target DNA. The tissue was cut into pieces by knives and crushed by pestle and mortar. It was also weighed 0.02 grams of minced tissues and retained in a labeled Eppendorf tube separately. Then, it was homogenized and digested by lysis buffer and proteinase K. The DNA was precipitated by 110 µl ethanol (96–100%). Then, the mixture was carefully applied to the column and centrifuged at 6000 x g (8000 RPM) for 1 minute. The columns were washed by centrifugation using the buffers WN solution at once time and working solution A (WA) at two times, according to the manufacturer's instruction Kit (Norgen Biotech crop, Thorold, Canada). Finally, the DNA was eluted from the column using 150 µl of the elution buffer B of the kit. The purity and concentration of the extracted DNA were determined by NanoDrop, and agarose gel (1.5%) also runs to check the quality of the extracted DNA in 40 minutes. Finally, put under − 20 0 C freezer until conducted PCR. 2.3.4. Nested PCR detection of T. gondii DNA Detection and amplification of T. gondii was conducted by using nPCR assay targeting at the B1 gene. Tissue samples were determined to be PCR-positive for T . gondii if this gene is amplified ( 32 ). For specific amplification, designed primers were used, according to the sequence of the external and internal two pair of primers, respectively: TgF1: 5′-TGT TCT GTC CTA TCG CAA CG-3’ and TgR1: 5′-ACG GAT GCA GTT CCT TTC TG-3’ for first PCR (PCR1) and TgF2: 5′-TCT TCC CAG ACG TGG ATT TC-3’; TgR2: 5′-CTC GAC AAT ACG CTG CTT GA-3’ for second PCR (PCR2) or nPCR ( 33 ). Briefly, the PCR reaction was done in the same technique on the first and second amplification in a thermocycler by a final volume of 25 µl reaction mixture containing 5 µl of extracting DNA; 2 µl of 10x PCR buffer (without Mg2+); 0.5 µl (20 pmol) of each primer; 2 µl (25mM) MgCl2; 2.5 µl dNTPs mix (20 µM each); 0.3 µl (5U/µl) Taq DNA polymerase and up to 25 µl double distilled water. The PCR conditions included an initial denaturation at 95˚C for 5 min; followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at 94˚C for 30 s, annealing at 53˚C for 45 s, extension at 72˚C for 1min, and a final elongation of 72˚C for 10 minutes followed by holding at 4˚C. However, 2µl of the first amplification products (PCR) as the template DNA and 55˚C for 30 s of annealing temperature were employed in the second amplification reaction. The first (PCR1) and second PCR (nPCR) products were run by gel electrophoresis with a 1.5% agarose gel with 1×TAE buffer at 80 volts for up to an hour; and the DNA bands were visualized by staining with ethidium bromide in gel documentation system. By using 100 bp as DNA marker ladders, positive controls (RH strain DNA) and negative controls (nuclease-free water), the amplified fragments of the B1 gene by first PCR and nPCR were approximately at 580 bp and 531 bp, respectively. 2.4. Data analysis methods Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. After data entry, the database was checked against the source documents for completeness. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were computed. Moreover, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify some of the potential risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection. The strength of associations was also calculated using odds ratio (OR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) and P -value ≤ 0.05 was seen as statistically significant. Variables that presented P-value of < 0.20 in univariable analysis were entered in the multivariable logistic regression model. Agreements between the diagnostic tests were evaluated and interpreted by Dohoo et al . ( 34 ) methods like as interpretation: 0.8: almost perfect agreement. 3. RESULTS 3.1. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of T. gondii in slaughtered animals The overall seropositivity of T. gondii antibodies in the slaughtered animals was found to be 56.2% (95% CI: 52-67.3%). As shown in Table 1 , the species wise prevalence of the anti- Toxoplasma antibodies in sheep, goat and cattle were 62% (95% CI: 48–76), 52.7% (95% CI: 46–72) and 54.5% (95% CI: 46–74), respectively. These variations in the prevalence were not statistically significant. Table 1 Seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughtered animal species at Gondar town, Ethiopia Examined animals N LAT+ (%) COR (95% CI) P -value Sheep 100 62 (62%) 1.360 (0.783–2.360) 0.929 (0.547–1.579) 1 0.275 0.787 Goats 110 58 (52.7) Cattle 110 60 (54.5) Total 320 180 (56.2%) NB: N: number of examined animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor In the present survey, a statistically significant association was observed between the seropositivity of T. gondii antibodies and the sex and age of sheep ( P ≤ 0.05). Adult sheep (85.7%) were 3.8 times more likely to be exposed to T. gondii than young sheep (52.8%). In contrary, body condition scores and origin of sheep did not show significant effect ( P ≥ 0.05) on the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies (Table 2 ). Table 2 Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia RF Categories N LAT+ (%) COR (95% CI) P -value AOR (95%CI) P -value Sex Female 72 50 (69.4) 1 3.030 (1.231–7.460) 0.016 1 3.138 (1.120–8.791) 0.030 Male 28 12 (42.9) Age Young 33 27 (81.8) 1 4.114 (1.504–11.253) 0.006 1 3.800 (1.296–11.148) 0.015 Adult 67 35 (52.2) BCS Poor 52 31 (59.6) 1 1.898 (0.612–5.890) 3.857 (1.082–13.751) 0.267 0.037 1 1.686 (0.465–6.117) 4.847 (1.128–20.827) 0.427 0.034 Medium 32 24 (75) Good 16 7 (43.8) Origin Gondar-Zuria 39 21(53.8) 1 0.569 (0.249-1.300)) 0.181 1 0.390 (0.148–1.024) 0.056 Wogera 61 41 (67.2) Total 100 62 (62) NB: RF: Risk factors; BCS: Body conditions; N: number of tested animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor Similarly, the sex ( P = 0.016); age ( P = 0.008) and origins ( P = 0.040) of slaughtered goats showed a significant effect on the seropositivity of T. gondii antibodies. The likelihood of females (69.4%) being seropositive for T. gondii antibodies was 3.0 times more than males (42.9%). Young goats were 4 times more likely acquired T. gondii infection than adult goats. But, body condition scores ( P ≤ 0.05) did not show an effect on the seropositivity for T. gondii antibodies (Table 3 ). Table 3 Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in goats at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia RF Categories N LAT+ (%) COR (95% CI) P -value AOR (95%CI) P -value Sex Female 37 28 (75.5) 1 4.459 (1.842–10.794) 0.001 1 3.666 (1.352–9.946) 0.011 Male 73 30 (41.1) Age Young 31 10 (32.3) 1 0.308 (0.128–0.740) 0.008 1 0.253 (0.089–0.725) 0.011 Adult 79 48 (60.8) BCS Poor 64 40 (62.5) 1 2.500 (0.640–9.766) 0.955 (0.228–3.995) 0.188 0.949 1 1.826 (0.359–9.290) 0.530 (0.094–3.003) 0.468 0.473 Medium 36 14 (38.9) Good 10 4 ( 40 ) Origin Gondar-Zuria 28 10 (35.7) 1 2.541 (1.044–6.183) 0.040 1 3.728 (1.300-10.695) 0.014 Wogera 82 48 (58.5) Total 110 58 (52.7) NB: RF: Risk factors; BCS: Body conditions; N: number of tested animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor In the case of cattle, the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was found to be 60%. Cross breed and old age cattle were the statically significant associated risk factors on the seropositivity of T. gondii antibodie ( P ≤ 0.05) (Table 4 ). Table 4 Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in cattle at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia RF Categories N LAT+ (%) COR (95% CI) P -value AOR (95%CI) P -value Breed Cross 25 20 (80) 1 4.500 (1.456–13.100) 0.006 1 3.907 (1.233–12.383) 0.021 Local 85 40 (47.1) Age Adult 90 44 (48.9) 1 4.182 (1.297–13.487) 0.017 1 0.280 (0.079–0.992) 0.048 Old 20 16 (80) BCS Poor 38 29 (76.3) 1 6.444 (2.079–19.973) 1.840 (0.663–5.104) 0.00 0.241 1 5.929 (1.780-19.754) 1.749 (0.580–5.276) 0.004 0.321 Medium 48 23 (47.9) Good 24 8 (33.3) Origin Gondar-Zuria 40 25 (62.5) 1 0.600 (0.271–1.326) 0.207 1 1.584 (0.646–3.886) 0.315 Armachiho 70 35 ( 50 ) Total 110 60 (54.5) NB: BCS: Body conditions; N: number of examined animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval: 1: Reference factor 3.2. The molecular detection of T. gondii in slaughtered animals Besides the serological assay for anti- Toxoplasma antibodies, molecular assays using first PCR and nested PCR were performed to confirm the presence of T. gondii DNA specific to the B1 gene at 580 bp (Fig. 2 ) and 531 bp (Fig. 3 ), respectively. The overall detection of first PCR detection of DNA of T. gondii was estimated to be 68 (21.2%) (95% CI: 16–30) in the study slaughtered animals (34% in sheep, 21.8% in goats and 9.1% in cattle) as shown in Fig. 1 . To undertake nested PCR with the PCR product as the template, a master mix was prepared to detect the DNA of T. gondii . Thus, the overall detection of T. gondii DNA among slaughtered animal was found 34 (10.6%) (95% CI: 6.7–16) (20% in sheep, 12.7% in goats and 0% in cattle) (Fig. 1 ). NB: Total = indicates the overall molecular findings of T. gondii among slaughtered ruminants Figure 3 : The diagrammatic representation of the Nested PCR detection of T. gondii among slaughtered animals 3.3. Comparison of LAT and molecular diagnostic test findings The overall LAT, first PCR and nested PCR detection of T . gondii infection were recorded as amount 180 (56.2%), 68 (21.2%) and 34 (10.6%) out of 320 tested slaughtered animals, respectively. Among these findings, 26 (8.1%), 8 (2.5%) and 8 (2.5%) among slaughtered animals were both LAT and first PCR; LAT and nested PCR, and first PCR and nested PCR positive records by the statistical analysis methods, respectively. However, in the case of the total examined slaughtered ruminants, 162 LAT positive results were again negative in first PCR detection. Withal, 8 first PCR positive results were again too negative by LAT of this infection. In 172 LAT positive results were returned negative by nested PCR (Table 5 ). Table 5 Qualitative comparison of results of the three diagnostic tests in slaughtered animals LAT First PCR Nested PCR PCR1 and Nested PCR Negative Positive Total Negative Positive Total Negative Positive Total Negative 132 8 140 140 0 140 140 0 140 Positive 162 18 180 172 8 180 172 8 180 Total 294 26 320 312 8 320 312 8 320 3.4. The agreement findings among LAT and PCR methods of T. gondii detections The present diagnostic tests of T. gondii were significantly fair correlation among LAT verses first PCR, and first PCR verses nested PCR. Whereas, LAT verses nested PCR were slightly concordant in the overall tested slaughtered animals as indicated in Table 6 . Table 6 Agreement results among LAT, First PCR and nPCR Diagnostic tests Slaughtered animals Kappa P- value Interpretation LAT vs PCR1 0.230 0.001 Fair agreements LAT vs nPCR 0.101 0.000 Slight agreements PCR1 vs nPCR 0.338 0.000 Fair agreements NB: LAT: Latex agglutination test; PCR1: First polymerase chain reaction; nPCR: Nested polymerase chain reaction; vs.: Verses; Kappa: Kappa value or coefficient 4. DISCUSSIONS The overall prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in the slaughtered animals was found 56.2% (95% CI: 52-67.3). This is relatively compatible with the previous findings in Southwestern Ethiopia ( 35 ). In contrast, it is higher than several reports from different regions of Ethiopia ( 16 , 18 , 19 , 36 , 37 ). These variations between reports might be ascribable to the presence of stray cats; intermediate host susceptibility, and the nature of infectivity of T. gondii in different agro-ecological areas; local climate variation of the country, and the types of serological test used and their cut-off values. In this study, the sample size might not estimate the seroprevalence rather confirm the existence of this infection in these study animals ( 3 , 38 , 39 ). Furthermore, the current finding might also be influenced by the site of a collection of blood samples at the slaughter line and cardiac blood of butchered animals, which are present with other non-specific inhibitors, leads to lower the specific concentration, and non-specifically binding of anti- T. gondii antibodies ( 9 ). Species wise prevalence of T. gondii infection was found 62% in sheep, 52.7% in goats and 54.7% in cattle. These findings were not varied between species to species. However, sheep were more exposed for T. gondii than cattle and goats. This coincides with the findings of Gebremedhin et al . ( 36 ), Lahmar et al . ( 40 ), Sharma et al . ( 14 ), Ethicha et al . ( 16 ), Getachew et al . ( 11 ), Rasti et al . ( 11 ) and Bentum et al . ( 41 ). These might be referred to the feeding behavior of sheep were grazing on the ground than goats which browse shrubs, and cattle are less susceptible to this parasite ( 3 , 42 ). Nevertheless, it’s also contradicted by the reports of Ayinomode and Abiola ( 43 ) in Nigeria who speculated that cattle were more exposed for this parasite than sheep and goats, and Ahmed et al . ( 44 ) in Pakistan also said that the goats were more exposed for T. gondii than sheep due to the management practice of semi-housed goats were highly experienced for grazing and browsing of feed. According to these authors, these fluctuations might be also ascribable to the susceptibility of the hosts, and the virulence and strain type of T. gondii ( 2 , 38 , 45 ). These current seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep (62%) and goats (52.7%) were too altered from other previous stories, concurs within Ethiopia ( 16 , 35 ); Egypt ( 11 , 46 ); South Africa ( 41 ) and India ( 14 ). However, these present findings are also higher than the previous reports from different areas of Ethiopia( 17 – 19 , 36 , 47 , 48 ); Nigeria ( 43 ); Ghana ( 12 ); Tunisia ( 40 ); China ( 49 , 50 ) and Iran ( 51 ). Along the other hands, these findings are also lower than Hussain and Zahid ( 41 ) who reported as 86.4% in sheep, 81.8% in goats and 72% of cows in Pakistan. In the case of cattle, the present anti- Toxoplasma antibodies detection (60%) is also higher than the previous reports of 25%( 18 ) and 10.7% ( 19 ) from different parts of Ethiopia. These variations of the present findings and the previous above-mentioned studies hypothesized to the varied geographical regions; host factors, husbandry practice; the poor hygienic conditions of feed and water; the presence of domestic cats; types of diagnostic test used, and their cut-off value and sample size. Moreover, the disease has more occurred in warm and moist areas than cold or hot areas to sustain the existence of viable sporulated oocysts in the moist environment( 1 , 4 , 38 ). The univariate logistic regression analysis of T. gondii in slaughtered animals showed that female sheep and goats were 3 and 4 times more likely exposed to this parasite than male sheep(COR = 3.030; P = 0.016) and male goats (COR = 4.459; P = 0.001), respectively. This significant female sheep finding corresponds with the previous studies from the globe ( 11 , 41 , 43 ). It was also contradicts from the world ( 14 , 16 , 19 , 35 , 49 ). In case of goat sex finding was also parallel to the previous reports from Ethiopia ( 16 , 19 , 35 , 52 ) and else in the globe ( 12 , 41 , 50 ). Whereas, previous reports from Ethiopia ( 18 , 47 ) contradicted these findings in which males were more exposed than female goats. These reports might be speculated as female sheep and goats are more exposed by T. gondii than their males due to the immunocompromised of breeding female animals during the stress of lactation and pregnancy leads to more acquiring T. gondii infection than males. Moreover, these female animals are too exhibited by males through contaminated semen during ejaculations which are also congenitally transmitting this parasite through tachyzoites for future generations( 53 ). However, in the event of the stress of male animals due to the marketing purpose and stimulate of its androgen hormones are decreases the immune status of male animals, which leads to more peril by this parasite than female sheep and goats ( 45 ). Likewise, this logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that adult sheep were 5 times more exposed to this infection than the young sheep (COR = 4.114; P = 0.006). This corresponds with the previous reports from Ethiopia ( 16 , 18 , 35 , 36 , 54 ) and else in the globe ( 13 , 40 , 41 , 49 ). But, it contradicted by Getachew et al .( 18 )from Ethiopia. Whereas, adult goats were 0.7 times less acquired this parasite than young goats (COR = 0.308; P = 0.008). This finding contradicts within the various reports from Ethiopia ( 16 , 35 , 52 ). This increasing infection rate in the adult group of slaughtered animals might be attributed to cumulative exposure of animals for long-lived acquiring oocysts from the environments, and the presence of stray cats during grazing in the land, and long journey transport of animals for marketing purpose might be predispose the animals for this parasite ( 1 , 54 ). The logistic regression analysis showed that Wogera origin of goats were 2.5 times more acquired T. gondii infection than the Gonadr-zuriya originated goats. This finding coincides with the earlier reports ( 35 , 36 ). However, it contradicts the reports of Getachew et al . ( 18 ). These might be the climatic difference of Wogera is moist and humid than Gondar-zuriya districts which is suitable for survival of oocysts of T. gondii ( 3 ). In case of breeds of cattle, cross breeds were 4.5 more exposed to this parasite than the local breeds. This constituent with the results of Geberemedhn et al .( 36 ) and contradicts the reports of Tilahun et al . ( 11 ). Breed difference in T. gondii seropositivity was unknown. However, these might be ascribed to the cross breeds are native to the natural area and less resistance for T. gondii infection than the local breeds. The overall first PCR and nested PCR T. gondii DNA findings were found in 21.2% (95% CI: 16–34) and 10.6% (95% CI: 6.7–16) in slaughtered animals, respectively. These findings were lower than the present serological findings of 56.2% of slaughtered animals. These might be attributed to the molecular assay is the best sensitive and specific tests of any stages of this disease in the hosts. Whereas the serological tests lack sensitivity and specificity and it depends on the anti- Toxoplasma antibodies production following the infected hosts ( 24 ). Moreover, the synergistic effect of the serological and molecular tests has more importance to confirm the presence of this parasite in biological samples ( 23 ). This also ascribed to the consumption of one cyst containing hundreds of bradyzoites is enough for a cat to be invaded which might also be acquiring this infection to their intermediate hosts ( 3 , 4 ). Moreover, there were fair correlation between LAT with first PCR findings ( Kappa : 0.230) and first PCR and nested PCR findings (Kappa: 0.101), and slight agreement between LAT with nested PCR results ( Kappa : 0.338) among slaughtered animals. These also attribute to the nested PCR technique is more sensitive and specific copies of the long DNA segments by applying two sets of primers than the conventional PCR, which are applied in two successive PCR within generating DNA products that have intended target site and non-specifically amplified DNA fragments in the first reaction rather than the second reaction ( 8 , 24 ). These concordance results are influenced by the presence of false-positive results due to cross contamination. It is not totally removed risks in this best sensitive test of nested PCR for the diagnosis of T. gondii in practical investigations even if too performed at controlled areas ( 23 ). Moreover, nested PCR also takes more detailed knowledge of the target sequence of this disease( 8 ). These present overall first (22.7%) and nested PCR (11.3%) findings among slaughtered ruminants are also parallel to the former molecular reports of 9.47% using nested PCR in Southern Ghana ( 55 ). These findings also higher than 15.52% in Bangladesh ( 56 ); 13.33% in central Iran ( 51 ); 14.3% from ovine aborted fetus and stillborn in Brazil ( 57 ); 17.33% in Northwestern Iran ( 58 ) and 7.38% in Egypt ( 11 ) who were reported the positive T. gondii DNA by using PCR assays, and 1.5% using nested PCR in North India ( 33 ). However, these current findings are also lower than the earlier nested PCR reports of 53.13% of bioassayed mice in central Ethiopia ( 23 ) and 31.25% in Southern India ( 59 ). These might be ascribable to the various types of PCR and its targeting gene of T. gondii ; the climate variation; the susceptibility of host and their parasite virulence. Moreover, the lower molecular detection of this parasite attributes to using a minuscule quantity of minced tissues that were unevenly distributed of this parasite in the entire affected tissue( 25 ). The specimen’s type and its collected timing, which are indicated with this parasite is more harbors in tissue than blood for a long time, and is more advantageous to get a positive finding of T. gondii DNA in tissue than blood samples in whatever stage of infection ( 1 ). In the case of species wise molecular results, 34%, 21.8%, and 9.1% by first PCR of T. gondii DNA targeting at B1 gene were positive in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. These agree with the previous reports of 33.3%, 32.5% and 19.3% in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively ( 60 ), and 28% sheep and 16% goats ( 58 ). Nevertheless, these results were also more eminent the reports of 1.69% sheep and 1.34% goats ( 33 ); and 17.8% sheep and 8.9% goats ( 51 ). In the case of nested PCR findings of these species, 20%, 12.7% and 0% of T. gondii DNA targeting at B1 gene were also positive in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. These findings were consistent with the previous reports of 9.84% sheep and 10.73% goats ( 61 ). It were too lower than 53.13% in both sheep and goats ( 23 ); 52.7% sheep and 41.7% goats ( 46 ), and 29.09% sheep and 38.23% goats ( 59 ). These the current first PCR and nested PCR, and the aforementioned various reports of molecular detection of this parasite might be supposed to the sampling size, quantity and type of minced tissue, bioassay mice virulence, agro-ecological area and climate change, the presence of felines, the types of PCR used and its targeting gene type, the susceptibility of slaughtered animals; primer design and PCR optimization protocols and the types DNA extraction kits manufacturer ( 1 , 8 , 25 ). Moreover, detection of T. gondii in heart tissue is mainly the preferable and a suitable predilection study site than another entire almost all edible animal tissues during the same stage of infection that remain viable of cysts for a long time in food animals( 4 , 59 ). 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The current synergistic of serological and molecular assays have confirmed the existence of Toxoplasma gondii occurrence in slaughtered domestic ruminants intended for human use in the study area. These relatively highly prevalent of Toxoplasma gondii findings indicated that a highlight of human risks by consuming raw meat and milk. Nevertheless, the nested polymerase chain reaction is the most precise diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii at any stage of this disease than the first round of polymerase chain reaction and latex agglutination tests. This nested polymerase chain reaction and the Toxo-latex agglutination tests had also slight agreements among slaughtered animals. Moreover, sex and age with sheep and goats; origin of goats, and breed and age of cattle were the potential statically significant associated risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity. Therefore, appropriate prevention and control methods should be practiced to decrease the occurrence of this infection. Further studies should be also finding out the genotype of this parasite in these study subjects. Abbreviations bp base pair DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid ELISA Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay GRA Granular antigen HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome HRM High-Resolution Melting LAMP Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification LAT Latex Agglutination Test MAT Modified Agglutination Test MCD Microscopic Cyst Detection nPCR Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR-RFLP Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism RAPD-PCR Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA- PCR RPM Revolution per minute SAG Surface antigen Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The animal welfare committee of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar approved the project (Ref. No. O/V/P/RCS/05/1237/2018). Consent for publication Not applicable Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest exist Funding Research and community service of V/President of University of Gondar was fund for this study (Ref. No. O/V/P/RCS/05/1237/2018). Authors’ contribution TY: Conceptualizations of the study, Methodology, validation, Statistical analysis coordinates data collection. ZS, NB and MDA performed the statistical analysis, software, and supervision. The author(s) read and approved the manuscript. Data availability statement The data used for analysis is fully available in the manuscript file without restriction. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the Office of Vice President for Research and Community Service, the University of Gondar for its financial support. References Dubey JP. Toxoplasmosis of animals and humans. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press,. 2010:1–313. Hill DE, and Dubey, J.P. . T. gondii as a parasite in food: analysis and control. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4430410","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":308069434,"identity":"509caaab-c612-4751-803d-eaf9e449f9cd","order_by":0,"name":"Tsedalu Yirsa","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA7ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACCYYCIMnewHiAB8Q9QEA5D1iLAYh1gAGhBZ82hBaJBCK12PMfPnjjh8FhBoObbwwOvG1jkOO7kcD4+AM+WyTSki17QFpu5xgcnNvGYCx5I4HZAK/DJHjMJHjAWnI3HOZtY0jccCOBTQKvFv7z3yT/gB12FqylHqiF/QdeLQw5bNJgW27wgrUkGABtwR9iN9KMrWUM0nkkz+R/ODjnnIThzDMPmyXO4NHC3n/44c03FdZyfMePJT54U2Yjz3c8+eCHCjxa4LYpQNwiAcSMDURoAAJ5ItWNglEwCkbBCAQAJLxTBPTYNesAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Woldia University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tsedalu","middleName":"","lastName":"Yirsa","suffix":""},{"id":308069435,"identity":"01dd5e68-bcd0-4d7d-8fce-437bba19f437","order_by":1,"name":"Zewdu Seyoum","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Gondar","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zewdu","middleName":"","lastName":"Seyoum","suffix":""},{"id":308069436,"identity":"7dcdaba2-4035-45f9-93cb-632a76e79857","order_by":2,"name":"Nega Berhane","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Gondar","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nega","middleName":"","lastName":"Berhane","suffix":""},{"id":308069437,"identity":"a7dfee2b-101f-44f8-aede-f284fe50d2e3","order_by":3,"name":"Mequanente Dagnaw Amare","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Gondar","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mequanente","middleName":"Dagnaw","lastName":"Amare","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-05-16 10:27:50","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":57720826,"identity":"94a9b862-2844-4201-b7fe-02a0338a54f8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-04 18:55:06","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":16477,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDetection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered animals, Northwest Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNB: Total= indicates the overall molecular findings of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii \u003c/em\u003eamong slaughtered ruminants\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4430410/v1/d08c49accfb80e51283b294e.png"},{"id":57720828,"identity":"8652d03d-8fe5-4a2b-b35a-fcf396386273","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-04 18:55:07","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":327066,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe diagrammatic representation of the first PCR detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered animals\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eM: 100 bp DNA marker: PC: positive control; first PCR positive of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA targeting at B1 gene (580bp) in sheep (lane 1, 2, 3); goats (lane 4, 5, 6); cattle (lane 7,8) and NC: negative control\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4430410/v1/3aaf843f55d089e743dc1f9a.png"},{"id":57720827,"identity":"70d84491-20f6-4018-856a-3ed206a2bcf1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-06-04 18:55:06","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":392393,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe diagrammatic representation of the Nested PCR detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered animals\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eM: 100 bp DNA marker: PC: positive control; nested PCR positive of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA targeting at B1 gene (531bp) in sheep (lane 1, 2, 3, 4); goats (lane 5, 6, 7, 8) and cattle (lane 9, 10, 11, 12) and NC: negative control\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4430410/v1/84a93dcf1d72ff645fbb5c60.png"},{"id":59382720,"identity":"33fca95b-e429-459b-b7aa-368dea714f07","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-01 06:05:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1640136,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4430410/v1/476c80b0-843d-4692-b474-782a36277f1e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia","fulltext":[{"header":"1. INTRODUCRTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eZoonotic foodborne parasite diseases are the leading source of health concerns globally. Toxoplasmosis, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite caused by Toxoplasma gondii, affects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans and birds, and causes high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Domestic cats and wild felids are the only significant final hosts, and this parasite is transmitted primarily through excreted resistant sporozoites in the environment. However, non-felids from practically all animals and humans are employed as intermediary hosts in the transmission of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Humans and animals are primarily infected by consumed undercooked or raw meat with live tissue cysts, or contaminated with food, water, and environment with sporulated oocysts shed in the faces of sick cats or congenitally by tachyzoites (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Consumption of cysts found in contaminated raw fruits and vegetables can potentially transmit this parasite (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Nonetheless, transmission of T. gondii infection happens occasionally in cases of tachyzoites present in organ and tissue donations, blood transfusions, and ingesting unpasteurized milk (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, inadvertent inoculations expose research lab staff who work with infected blood (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e can cause serious complications and symptoms in immunosuppressed patients who are asymptomatic throughout their entire life without reading a clinical sign (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). When immunosuppressed women are reactivating of this infection acquired before pregnancy, as well as women recently exposed to \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e during pregnancy, transplacental toxoplasmosis can also occur (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). In the case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer in immunocompromised patients, \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e is also responsible for life-threatening diseases such as encephalitis or death due to latent reinfection (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e). Toxoplasmosis is also a parasitic disease that is seen in different age groups of meat-producing animals in the world, and causes reproductive defects such as miscarriage and stillbirth, as it is more common in sheep and goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe diagnosis of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e has performed by microscopic, serological, bioassay and molecular methods, or by some combination of these above assays using by either finding this parasite or its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or indirectly by detecting antibodies of different isotypes (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e). There are also three common strains, or lineages, known as type I, II, and III. These strains have different genetic characteristics and can be found in different areas and animals. Types II and III are the most common strains that infect both animals and humans in Europe, North America, and Africa. Type I is more likely to cause infections in people with weakened immune systems and is more harmful to mice than types II and III. In central Ethiopia, researchers have found these strains in tissue cysts in sheep and goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eToxoplasmosis is a very important disease caused by a parasite that can be found in food. The World Health Organization says it is a big problem, with 10.3\u0026nbsp;million cases reported between 2010 and 2015(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e). It is seroprevalence in cats that are found up to 100% in the world, which is the most important for the transmission of this parasite by shedding environmental resistance oocyst in the surroundings of animals and humans (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Up to one\u0026ndash;third of the human population is also chronically exposed and mostly occurred in humid and warmer areas within the endemicity rate of 10\u0026ndash;70%(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, it is also the major cause of reproductive failure in sheep and goats in the world, including Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Many authors have been reported the seroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in domestic ruminants across the globe (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR12 CR13\" citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e). Among African nations, Ethiopia have also highly variable seroprevalent of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e from different agro-ecological areas within their regions in humans (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e); domestic ruminants (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR17 CR18\" citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e); cats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e) and chickens (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBesides to the above-limited seroprevalenc of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e reported from various parts of Ethiopia, 53.13% of nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) results is the best tests than the direct agglutination (DAT) (30.58) and microscopic cyst detection (MCD) (28.82%) of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA in brain tissues of bioassayed mice from seropositive of sheep and goats in Central Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e). This polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified a little quantity of minced dead or alive tissue cysts is the best sensitive; specific and rapidly detecting \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e at any point of infection. It does not depend on the immune response of the infected hosts which is unlike serological tests. These indicate more or less of the seronegative tests and seropositive tests are positive and negative by DNA detection techniques, respectively (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e). This is imputable to the availability of getting this parasite from a low amount of minced tissue is difficult. Nevertheless, murine bioassays have been used more amount of live representative samples and sensitive than the molecular test for detecting this infection in tissue samples, but it has also expensive and unethically (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, on that point have limited report about the molecular detection, and its comparison within conventional tests of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e to confirm the presence of this infection in the illustration samples from Ethiopia, especially in the work region.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e is the most prevalent and zoonotic significance disease in Ethiopia. It causes reproductive problems in small ruminants and humans, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Moreover, it has direct and indirect economic crises in animals as well as the one- third of the human population of the globe is too affected by this parasite particularly in low-income African countries like Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). There is a little seroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e reported in animals and humans as easily as there is no previous story of molecular detection of \u003cem\u003eT\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003egondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA in tissue samples directly from food animals in Ethiopia, especially in the study area so far. However, the cultural habit of consuming raw or under-cooked meat and milk contain tissue cysts, and any contaminated water, vegetables and fruits within sporulated oocyts shed in the faces of infected cats; the disease is more harbors in tissue than blood for various times; the geographical and climatic change, and the management systems are might be the predispose factors for the occurrence of this disease in the study site (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, this study aimed to detect \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e by the joint of serological and molecular assays for confirming its presence in the representative samples. This study would have more conclusive results and forward appropriate prevention and control measures of this disease in animals and humans.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Methods and materials","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1. Study setting, design and period\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was carried out in Gondar town from September 2019 to October 2020. Gondar town is located in the Central Gondar Zone, approximately 727 kilometers from the capital city of Addis Ababa in Northwest Ethiopia, and 182 kilometers from Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara regional state. The town is positioned at a latitude and longitude of 12\u0026deg;36\u0026rsquo;N and 37\u0026deg;28\u0026rsquo;E, with an altitude of around 2,220 meters above sea level. The average temperature in Gondar town is 20 \u0026deg;c, and the average annual rainfall ranges from 880 to 1172 millimeters (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e). The town has a relative humidity varying from 60\u0026ndash;70% during the rainy season and from 30\u0026ndash;40% during the dry time of the year. As the Central Statistical Authority (CSA) reported, the town has 500, 788 populations (300,000 male and 200,788 female) in Gondar town (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrently, the town has a private Elfora abattoir. The area is also found under \u003cem\u003eWoynadega\u003c/em\u003e, agro-climatic zone (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e). The agriculture system in the Central Gondar zone is a mixed type (crop-livestock production). It includes Gondar town and Gondar Zuria districts. The Gondar Zuria districts have also 1287 square kilometers, a human population of 278, 835 and a livestock population of 140, 287 cattle, 42, 287 sheep, 38, 895 goats, 26, 287 donkeys, 339 mule, 1, 903 horses (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e), In the these districts, many people are also involved in the public service occupation including; smallholder farming, supplying food animals and animal products to the residential areas and the abattoir.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional study design was conducted from September 2019 to October 2020 with the aim to determine the seroprevalence and detect DNA of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered domestic ruminants intended for human consumption in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2. Population and sample\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e The study subjects were slaughtered domestic ruminants obtained from Gondar Elfora abattoir and local slaughterhouses in the Gondar town that were destined for human consumption. The origins of these slaughtered animals were mostly from Gondar-zuria, Wogera, Metema, Chilega and Armachiho.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelevant individual animal breed, sex, age, body condition, and origin of these animals were registered before slaughtered by asking the abattoir attendants and managers. Ages of sheep and goats above six months were included in this study by observation of the erupted permanent incisors. These animals\u0026rsquo; \u0026le; 1 year were considered as young while those above one year were considered an adult. Cattle less than 5 years were too adult and greater than 5 years as old (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e). The body conditions of these slaughtered animals were also determined as poor, medium and good based on the guidelines of Nicolson and Butterworth (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e)). Moreover, all tested sheep and goats were indigenous breeds. During this study period, no cows or heifers were also slaughtered in the abattoir.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 320 blood and matching heart tissue samples were collected from slaughtered animals for the combined serological and molecular detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection. A purposive sampling was used for selecting study animals. Elfora abattoir and local slaughterhouses were also selected purposively within their willingness. The sample sources were also influenced by their willingness and accessibility of slaughtered animals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3. Data collection and laboratory methods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3.1. Sample collection methods and transportations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter proper routine ante mortem examination of the slaughtered animals, approximately 5\u0026ndash;10 ml of whole blood and correspondingly 30 grams (g) of heart tissues were collected for each animal from sheep, goat and cattle. And so, the whole blood sample was gathered by the labeled plain tube during exsanguinations at the slaughter line for these slaughtered animals. Heart tissue samples were also collected after slaughtered these animals in labeled sterile plastic bags and scissors. And then, the samples were sent separately within a cold ice box to the molecular biology laboratory of the department of biotechnology for molecular detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection. The whole blood samples were left for a few hours at room temperature to allow clotting and centrifuge by 4000 RPM for 5 minutes to separate serum and it was placed in eppendrof tube. Both samples of serum and tissues were stored at -20\u0026deg;C before being utilized for a long time.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3.2. Toxo-latex agglutination test from animals blood\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eToxo-latex agglutination test kit was used to assay the serum of the study subjects according to the manufacturer\u0026rsquo;s recommendations (SPINREACT, S.A/S.A.U, GIRONA, SPAIN).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3.3. DNA extraction of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e from animals tissue\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout 30 g of tissue sample was collected for isolation of the target DNA. The tissue was cut into pieces by knives and crushed by pestle and mortar. It was also weighed 0.02 grams of minced tissues and retained in a labeled Eppendorf tube separately. Then, it was homogenized and digested by lysis buffer and proteinase K. The DNA was precipitated by 110 \u0026micro;l ethanol (96\u0026ndash;100%). Then, the mixture was carefully applied to the column and centrifuged at 6000 x g (8000 RPM) for 1 minute. The columns were washed by centrifugation using the buffers WN solution at once time and working solution A (WA) at two times, according to the manufacturer's instruction Kit (Norgen Biotech crop, Thorold, Canada). Finally, the DNA was eluted from the column using 150 \u0026micro;l of the elution buffer B of the kit. The purity and concentration of the extracted DNA were determined by NanoDrop, and agarose gel (1.5%) also runs to check the quality of the extracted DNA in 40 minutes. Finally, put under \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;20\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003eC freezer until conducted PCR.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3.4. Nested PCR detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDetection and amplification of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e was conducted by using nPCR assay targeting at the B1 gene. Tissue samples were determined to be PCR-positive for \u003cem\u003eT\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003egondii\u003c/em\u003e if this gene is amplified (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e). For specific amplification, designed primers were used, according to the sequence of the external and internal two pair of primers, respectively: TgF1: 5\u0026prime;-TGT TCT GTC CTA TCG CAA CG-3\u0026rsquo; and TgR1: 5\u0026prime;-ACG GAT GCA GTT CCT TTC TG-3\u0026rsquo; for first PCR (PCR1) and TgF2: 5\u0026prime;-TCT TCC CAG ACG TGG ATT TC-3\u0026rsquo;; TgR2: 5\u0026prime;-CTC GAC AAT ACG CTG CTT GA-3\u0026rsquo; for second PCR (PCR2) or nPCR (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBriefly, the PCR reaction was done in the same technique on the first and second amplification in a thermocycler by a final volume of 25 \u0026micro;l reaction mixture containing 5 \u0026micro;l of extracting DNA; 2 \u0026micro;l of 10x PCR buffer (without Mg2+); 0.5 \u0026micro;l (20 pmol) of each primer; 2 \u0026micro;l (25mM) MgCl2; 2.5 \u0026micro;l dNTPs mix (20 \u0026micro;M each); 0.3 \u0026micro;l (5U/\u0026micro;l) Taq DNA polymerase and up to 25 \u0026micro;l double distilled water. The PCR conditions included an initial denaturation at 95˚C for 5 min; followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at 94˚C for 30 s, annealing at 53˚C for 45 s, extension at 72˚C for 1min, and a final elongation of 72˚C for 10 minutes followed by holding at 4˚C. However, 2\u0026micro;l of the first amplification products (PCR) as the template DNA and 55˚C for 30 s of annealing temperature were employed in the second amplification reaction. The first (PCR1) and second PCR (nPCR) products were run by gel electrophoresis with a 1.5% agarose gel with 1\u0026times;TAE buffer at 80 volts for up to an hour; and the DNA bands were visualized by staining with ethidium bromide in gel documentation system. By using 100 bp as DNA marker ladders, positive controls (RH strain DNA) and negative controls (nuclease-free water), the amplified fragments of the B1 gene by first PCR and nPCR were approximately at 580 bp and 531 bp, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4. Data analysis methods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. After data entry, the database was checked against the source documents for completeness. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were computed. Moreover, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify some of the potential risk factors associated with \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma\u003c/em\u003e infection. The strength of associations was also calculated using odds ratio (OR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) and \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was seen as statistically significant. Variables that presented P-value of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.20 in univariable analysis were entered in the multivariable logistic regression model. Agreements between the diagnostic tests were evaluated and interpreted by Dohoo \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e) methods like as interpretation: \u0026lt; 0.2: slight agreement, 0.2\u0026ndash;0.4: fair agreement, 0.4\u0026ndash;0.6: moderate agreement, 0.6\u0026ndash;0.8: substantial agreement, and \u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.8: almost perfect agreement.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. RESULTS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in slaughtered animals\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall seropositivity of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies in the slaughtered animals was found to be 56.2% (95% CI: 52-67.3%). As shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, the species wise prevalence of the anti-\u003cem\u003eToxoplasma\u003c/em\u003e antibodies in sheep, goat and cattle were 62% (95% CI: 48\u0026ndash;76), 52.7% (95% CI: 46\u0026ndash;72) and 54.5% (95% CI: 46\u0026ndash;74), respectively. These variations in the prevalence were not statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in slaughtered animal species at Gondar town, Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExamined animals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT+ (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSheep\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62 (62%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.360 (0.783\u0026ndash;2.360)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.929 (0.547\u0026ndash;1.579)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.275\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.787\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGoats\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (52.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCattle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 (54.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e320\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180 (56.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNB: N: number of examined animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the present survey, a statistically significant association was observed between the seropositivity of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies and the sex and age of sheep (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Adult sheep (85.7%) were 3.8 times more likely to be exposed to \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e than young sheep (52.8%). In contrary, body condition scores and origin of sheep did not show significant effect (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;0.05) on the seroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection in sheep at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategories\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT+ (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAOR (95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50 (69.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.030 (1.231\u0026ndash;7.460)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.016\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.138 (1.120\u0026ndash;8.791)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (42.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (81.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.114 (1.504\u0026ndash;11.253)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.800 (1.296\u0026ndash;11.148)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdult\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (52.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (59.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.898 (0.612\u0026ndash;5.890)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.857 (1.082\u0026ndash;13.751)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.267\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.037\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.686 (0.465\u0026ndash;6.117)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.847 (1.128\u0026ndash;20.827)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.427\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedium\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (75)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (43.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrigin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGondar-Zuria\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21(53.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.569 (0.249-1.300))\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.181\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.390 (0.148\u0026ndash;1.024)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.056\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWogera\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41 (67.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62 (62)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eNB: RF: Risk factors; BCS: Body conditions; N: number of tested animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarly, the sex (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.016); age (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.008) and origins (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.040) of slaughtered goats showed a significant effect on the seropositivity of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies. The likelihood of females (69.4%) being seropositive for \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies was 3.0 times more than males (42.9%). Young goats were 4 times more likely acquired \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection than adult goats. But, body condition scores (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05) did not show an effect on the seropositivity for \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection in goats at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategories\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT+ (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAOR (95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28 (75.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.459 (1.842\u0026ndash;10.794)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.666 (1.352\u0026ndash;9.946)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (41.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (32.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.308 (0.128\u0026ndash;0.740)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.008\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.253 (0.089\u0026ndash;0.725)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdult\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48 (60.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (62.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.500 (0.640\u0026ndash;9.766)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.955 (0.228\u0026ndash;3.995)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.188\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.949\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.826 (0.359\u0026ndash;9.290)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.530 (0.094\u0026ndash;3.003)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.468\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.473\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedium\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (38.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrigin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGondar-Zuria\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (35.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.541 (1.044\u0026ndash;6.183)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.040\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.728 (1.300-10.695)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.014\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWogera\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48 (58.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (52.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eNB: RF: Risk factors; BCS: Body conditions; N: number of tested animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; AOR: Adjusted odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval; 1: Reference factor\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the case of cattle, the overall seroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e was found to be 60%. Cross breed and old age cattle were the statically significant associated risk factors on the seropositivity of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodie (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection in cattle at Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategories\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT+ (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOR (95% CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAOR (95%CI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCross\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (80)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.500 (1.456\u0026ndash;13.100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.907 (1.233\u0026ndash;12.383)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (47.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdult\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44 (48.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.182 (1.297\u0026ndash;13.487)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.280 (0.079\u0026ndash;0.992)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.048\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOld\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (80)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (76.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.444 (2.079\u0026ndash;19.973)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.840 (0.663\u0026ndash;5.104)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.241\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.929 (1.780-19.754)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.749 (0.580\u0026ndash;5.276)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.004\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.321\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMedium\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (47.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (33.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrigin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGondar-Zuria\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (62.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.600 (0.271\u0026ndash;1.326)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.207\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.584 (0.646\u0026ndash;3.886)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.315\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eArmachiho\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 (54.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNB: BCS: Body conditions; N: number of examined animals; COR: Crude odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval: 1: Reference factor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2. The molecular detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in slaughtered animals\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBesides the serological assay for anti-\u003cem\u003eToxoplasma\u003c/em\u003e antibodies, molecular assays using first PCR and nested PCR were performed to confirm the presence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA specific to the B1 gene at 580 bp (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e) and 531 bp (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), respectively. The overall detection of first PCR detection of DNA of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e was estimated to be 68 (21.2%) (95% CI: 16\u0026ndash;30) in the study slaughtered animals (34% in sheep, 21.8% in goats and 9.1% in cattle) as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. To undertake nested PCR with the PCR product as the template, a master mix was prepared to detect the DNA of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e. Thus, the overall detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA among slaughtered animal was found 34 (10.6%) (95% CI: 6.7\u0026ndash;16) (20% in sheep, 12.7% in goats and 0% in cattle) (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNB: Total\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;indicates the overall molecular findings of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered ruminants\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e: The diagrammatic representation of the Nested PCR detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e among slaughtered animals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3. Comparison of LAT and molecular diagnostic test findings\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall LAT, first PCR and nested PCR detection of \u003cem\u003eT\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003egondii\u003c/em\u003e infection were recorded as amount 180 (56.2%), 68 (21.2%) and 34 (10.6%) out of 320 tested slaughtered animals, respectively. Among these findings, 26 (8.1%), 8 (2.5%) and 8 (2.5%) among slaughtered animals were both LAT and first PCR; LAT and nested PCR, and first PCR and nested PCR positive records by the statistical analysis methods, respectively. However, in the case of the total examined slaughtered ruminants, 162 LAT positive results were again negative in first PCR detection. Withal, 8 first PCR positive results were again too negative by LAT of this infection. In 172 LAT positive results were returned negative by nested PCR (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQualitative comparison of results of the three diagnostic tests in slaughtered animals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFirst PCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNested PCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePCR1 and Nested PCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e162\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e172\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e172\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e294\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e320\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e312\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e320\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e312\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e320\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4. The agreement findings among LAT and PCR methods of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e detections\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present diagnostic tests of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e were significantly fair correlation among LAT verses first PCR, and first PCR verses nested PCR. Whereas, LAT verses nested PCR were slightly concordant in the overall tested slaughtered animals as indicated in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAgreement results among LAT, First PCR and nPCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiagnostic tests\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSlaughtered animals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKappa\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP-\u003c/em\u003evalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterpretation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT vs PCR1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.230\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFair agreements\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLAT vs nPCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.101\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSlight agreements\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePCR1 vs nPCR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.338\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFair agreements\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003eNB: LAT: Latex agglutination test; PCR1: First polymerase chain reaction; nPCR: Nested polymerase chain reaction; vs.: Verses; Kappa: Kappa value or coefficient\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. DISCUSSIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe overall prevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies in the slaughtered animals was found 56.2% (95% CI: 52-67.3). This is relatively compatible with the previous findings in Southwestern Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, it is higher than several reports from different regions of Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e). These variations between reports might be ascribable to the presence of stray cats; intermediate host susceptibility, and the nature of infectivity of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in different agro-ecological areas; local climate variation of the country, and the types of serological test used and their cut-off values. In this study, the sample size might not estimate the seroprevalence rather confirm the existence of this infection in these study animals (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, the current finding might also be influenced by the site of a collection of blood samples at the slaughter line and cardiac blood of butchered animals, which are present with other non-specific inhibitors, leads to lower the specific concentration, and non-specifically binding of anti-\u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e antibodies (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpecies wise prevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection was found 62% in sheep, 52.7% in goats and 54.7% in cattle. These findings were not varied between species to species. However, sheep were more exposed for \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e than cattle and goats. This coincides with the findings of Gebremedhin \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e), Lahmar \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e), Sharma \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e), Ethicha \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e), Getachew \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e), Rasti \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e) and Bentum \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e). These might be referred to the feeding behavior of sheep were grazing on the ground than goats which browse shrubs, and cattle are less susceptible to this parasite (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, it\u0026rsquo;s also contradicted by the reports of Ayinomode and Abiola (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e) in Nigeria who speculated that cattle were more exposed for this parasite than sheep and goats, and Ahmed \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e) in Pakistan also said that the goats were more exposed for \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e than sheep due to the management practice of semi-housed goats were highly experienced for grazing and browsing of feed. According to these authors, these fluctuations might be also ascribable to the susceptibility of the hosts, and the virulence and strain type of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese current seroprevalence of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in sheep (62%) and goats (52.7%) were too altered from other previous stories, concurs within Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e); Egypt (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e); South Africa (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e) and India (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e). However, these present findings are also higher than the previous reports from different areas of Ethiopia(\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR18\" citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e); Nigeria (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e); Ghana (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e); Tunisia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e); China (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e) and Iran (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e). Along the other hands, these findings are also lower than Hussain and Zahid (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e) who reported as 86.4% in sheep, 81.8% in goats and 72% of cows in Pakistan. In the case of cattle, the present anti-\u003cem\u003eToxoplasma\u003c/em\u003e antibodies detection (60%) is also higher than the previous reports of 25%(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e) and 10.7% (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e) from different parts of Ethiopia. These variations of the present findings and the previous above-mentioned studies hypothesized to the varied geographical regions; host factors, husbandry practice; the poor hygienic conditions of feed and water; the presence of domestic cats; types of diagnostic test used, and their cut-off value and sample size. Moreover, the disease has more occurred in warm and moist areas than cold or hot areas to sustain the existence of viable sporulated oocysts in the moist environment(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe univariate logistic regression analysis of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in slaughtered animals showed that female sheep and goats were 3 and 4 times more likely exposed to this parasite than male sheep(COR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.030; \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.016) and male goats (COR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.459; \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), respectively. This significant female sheep finding corresponds with the previous studies from the globe (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e). It was also contradicts from the world (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e). In case of goat sex finding was also parallel to the previous reports from Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e) and else in the globe (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e). Whereas, previous reports from Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e) contradicted these findings in which males were more exposed than female goats. These reports might be speculated as female sheep and goats are more exposed by \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e than their males due to the immunocompromised of breeding female animals during the stress of lactation and pregnancy leads to more acquiring \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection than males. Moreover, these female animals are too exhibited by males through contaminated semen during ejaculations which are also congenitally transmitting this parasite through tachyzoites for future generations(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e). However, in the event of the stress of male animals due to the marketing purpose and stimulate of its androgen hormones are decreases the immune status of male animals, which leads to more peril by this parasite than female sheep and goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLikewise, this logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that adult sheep were 5 times more exposed to this infection than the young sheep (COR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.114; \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.006). This corresponds with the previous reports from Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e) and else in the globe (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e). But, it contradicted by Getachew \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e.(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e)from Ethiopia. Whereas, adult goats were 0.7 times less acquired this parasite than young goats (COR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.308; \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.008). This finding contradicts within the various reports from Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e). This increasing infection rate in the adult group of slaughtered animals might be attributed to cumulative exposure of animals for long-lived acquiring oocysts from the environments, and the presence of stray cats during grazing in the land, and long journey transport of animals for marketing purpose might be predispose the animals for this parasite (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe logistic regression analysis showed that \u003cem\u003eWogera\u003c/em\u003e origin of goats were 2.5 times more acquired \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection than the \u003cem\u003eGonadr-zuriya\u003c/em\u003e originated goats. This finding coincides with the earlier reports (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e). However, it contradicts the reports of Getachew \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e). These might be the climatic difference of \u003cem\u003eWogera\u003c/em\u003e is moist and humid than \u003cem\u003eGondar-zuriya\u003c/em\u003e districts which is suitable for survival of oocysts of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). In case of breeds of cattle, cross breeds were 4.5 more exposed to this parasite than the local breeds. This constituent with the results of Geberemedhn \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e.(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e) and contradicts the reports of Tilahun \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e). Breed difference in \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e seropositivity was unknown. However, these might be ascribed to the cross breeds are native to the natural area and less resistance for \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e infection than the local breeds.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall first PCR and nested PCR \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA findings were found in 21.2% (95% CI: 16\u0026ndash;34) and 10.6% (95% CI: 6.7\u0026ndash;16) in slaughtered animals, respectively. These findings were lower than the present serological findings of 56.2% of slaughtered animals. These might be attributed to the molecular assay is the best sensitive and specific tests of any stages of this disease in the hosts. Whereas the serological tests lack sensitivity and specificity and it depends on the anti-\u003cem\u003eToxoplasma\u003c/em\u003e antibodies production following the infected hosts (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, the synergistic effect of the serological and molecular tests has more importance to confirm the presence of this parasite in biological samples (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e). This also ascribed to the consumption of one cyst containing hundreds of bradyzoites is enough for a cat to be invaded which might also be acquiring this infection to their intermediate hosts (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, there were fair correlation between LAT with first PCR findings (\u003cem\u003eKappa\u003c/em\u003e: 0.230) and first PCR and nested PCR findings (Kappa: 0.101), and slight agreement between LAT with nested PCR results (\u003cem\u003eKappa\u003c/em\u003e: 0.338) among slaughtered animals. These also attribute to the nested PCR technique is more sensitive and specific copies of the long DNA segments by applying two sets of primers than the conventional PCR, which are applied in two successive PCR within generating DNA products that have intended target site and non-specifically amplified DNA fragments in the first reaction rather than the second reaction (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e). These concordance results are influenced by the presence of false-positive results due to cross contamination. It is not totally removed risks in this best sensitive test of nested PCR for the diagnosis of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in practical investigations even if too performed at controlled areas (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, nested PCR also takes more detailed knowledge of the target sequence of this disease(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese present overall first (22.7%) and nested PCR (11.3%) findings among slaughtered ruminants are also parallel to the former molecular reports of 9.47% using nested PCR in Southern Ghana (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e). These findings also higher than 15.52% in Bangladesh (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e); 13.33% in central Iran (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e); 14.3% from ovine aborted fetus and stillborn in Brazil (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e); 17.33% in Northwestern Iran (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e) and 7.38% in Egypt (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e) who were reported the positive \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA by using PCR assays, and 1.5% using nested PCR in North India (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e). However, these current findings are also lower than the earlier nested PCR reports of 53.13% of bioassayed mice in central Ethiopia (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e) and 31.25% in Southern India (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e). These might be ascribable to the various types of PCR and its targeting gene of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e; the climate variation; the susceptibility of host and their parasite virulence. Moreover, the lower molecular detection of this parasite attributes to using a minuscule quantity of minced tissues that were unevenly distributed of this parasite in the entire affected tissue(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e). The specimen\u0026rsquo;s type and its collected timing, which are indicated with this parasite is more harbors in tissue than blood for a long time, and is more advantageous to get a positive finding of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA in tissue than blood samples in whatever stage of infection (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the case of species wise molecular results, 34%, 21.8%, and 9.1% by first PCR of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA targeting at B1 gene were positive in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. These agree with the previous reports of 33.3%, 32.5% and 19.3% in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e), and 28% sheep and 16% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, these results were also more eminent the reports of 1.69% sheep and 1.34% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e); and 17.8% sheep and 8.9% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e). In the case of nested PCR findings of these species, 20%, 12.7% and 0% of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e DNA targeting at B1 gene were also positive in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. These findings were consistent with the previous reports of 9.84% sheep and 10.73% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e). It were too lower than 53.13% in both sheep and goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e); 52.7% sheep and 41.7% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e), and 29.09% sheep and 38.23% goats (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e). These the current first PCR and nested PCR, and the aforementioned various reports of molecular detection of this parasite might be supposed to the sampling size, quantity and type of minced tissue, bioassay mice virulence, agro-ecological area and climate change, the presence of felines, the types of PCR used and its targeting gene type, the susceptibility of slaughtered animals; primer design and PCR optimization protocols and the types DNA extraction kits manufacturer (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, detection of \u003cem\u003eT. gondii\u003c/em\u003e in heart tissue is mainly the preferable and a suitable predilection study site than another entire almost all edible animal tissues during the same stage of infection that remain viable of cysts for a long time in food animals(\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe current synergistic of serological and molecular assays have confirmed the existence of \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e occurrence in slaughtered domestic ruminants intended for human use in the study area. These relatively highly prevalent of \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e findings indicated that a highlight of human risks by consuming raw meat and milk. Nevertheless, the nested polymerase chain reaction is the most precise diagnosis of \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e at any stage of this disease than the first round of polymerase chain reaction and latex agglutination tests. This nested polymerase chain reaction and the Toxo-latex agglutination tests had also slight agreements among slaughtered animals. Moreover, sex and age with sheep and goats; origin of goats, and breed and age of cattle were the potential statically significant associated risk factors for \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e seropositivity. Therefore, appropriate prevention and control methods should be practiced to decrease the occurrence of this infection. Further studies should be also finding out the genotype of this parasite in these study subjects.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cp\u003ebp\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;base pair\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDNA\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Deoxyribonucleic acid\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eELISA\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGRA\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Granular antigen\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHIV/AIDS\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency\u0026nbsp;syndrome\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHRM\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;High-Resolution Melting\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLAMP\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLAT\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Latex Agglutination Test\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMAT\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Modified Agglutination Test\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMCD\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Microscopic Cyst Detection\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003enPCR\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePCR \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Polymerase Chain Reaction\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePCR-RFLP\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRAPD-PCR\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA- PCR\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRPM\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Revolution per minute\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSAG \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Surface antigen\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe animal welfare committee of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar approved the project (Ref. No. O/V/P/RCS/05/1237/2018).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflict of interest exist\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;Funding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch and community service of V/President of University of Gondar was fund for this study\u0026nbsp;(Ref. No. O/V/P/RCS/05/1237/2018).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; contribution\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTY: Conceptualizations of the study, Methodology, validation, Statistical analysis coordinates data collection. ZS, NB and MDA performed the statistical analysis, software, and supervision. The author(s) read and approved the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data used for analysis is fully available in the manuscript file without restriction.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would like to acknowledge the Office of Vice President for Research and Community Service, the University of Gondar for its financial support.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDubey JP. Toxoplasmosis of animals and humans. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press,. 2010:1\u0026ndash;313.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHill DE, and Dubey, J.P. . T. gondii as a parasite in food: analysis and control. Microbiol Spectrum,. 2016;4(4):227-47.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTenter AM, Heckeroth, A.R.and Weiss, L.M. . 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Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases,. 2019;20:20.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Gondar town, Latex agglutination, Nested polymerase chain reaction, Slaughtered animals, Toxoplasma gondii","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe intracellular protozoan parasite \u003cem\u003eToxoplasma gondii\u003c/em\u003e is a worldwide zoonotic cyst-forming parasite that affects nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans. There are no studies that confirm the presence of this parasite in Ethiopian food animals, particularly in the study area, aside from seroprevalence reports. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use molecular and serological methods to identify this infections in slaughtred domestic ruminants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to October 2020 by collecting a total of 320 blood and matching tissue samples from purposively selected domestic ruminants. These study participants' infections were identified using the nested polymerase chain reaction and the latex agglutination test. The relationship between risk factors and the incidence of the seropostivity was also ascertained through the use of logistic regression.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall serological, first polymerase chain reaction and nested polymerase chain reaction findings of this infection in slaughtered animals were 180 (56.2%), 68 (21.2%) and 34 (10.6%), respectively. Moreover, 62 (62%), 58 (52.7%) and 60 (54.5%) of latex agglutination tests; 34 (34%), 24 (21.8%) and 10 (9.1%) of first polymerase chain reaction and 20 (20%), 14(12.5%) and 0 (0%) with nested polymerase chain reaction were also found in sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. Significant associations were observed between this infection seropositivity and sex and age within sheep and goats; origins with goats, and breed and ages within cattle (\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Moreover, there were also fair concordant between latex agglutination and first polymerase chain reaction tests on slaughtered animals (\u003cem\u003eKappa\u003c/em\u003e: 0.230).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGenerally, these comparative tests were verified the presence of this infection in killed animals, which increased the risk to the public's health among human consumers, especially expectant mothers. Therefore, the best way to prevent this disease should be to avoid eating raw foods. Additional research on this pathogen's genotyping will also be supported.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii among slaughtered domestic ruminants in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-06-04 18:55:02","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4430410/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5c4a09b5-c170-4569-a749-f93be5665031","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 4th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-07-01T05:56:56+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-06-04 18:55:02","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4430410","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4430410","identity":"rs-4430410","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}