The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Ghanaian sheep and goats

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect anti-Toxop lasma gondii antibodies in 1258 small ruminants (732 sheep and 526 goats) s ampled from 28 different locations in the three ecological zones of Ghana. The animals sampled had an overall seroprevalence of 30.5% (384 of the tota l). Sheep had a higher overall prevalence (33.2%) compared to the goats (26 .8%). Animals sampled from the Coastal Savannah and the Forest zones had pr evalences of 39.4% and 39.1%, respectively, which were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the prevalence recorded for the drier Guinea Savannah zone (20%). Prevalence of antibodies in female animals (35.8%) was significantl y higher (P < 0.01) than that for males (21.1%). Significant differences we re also observed between breeds and age groups. The ELISA was found to be b oth highly sensitive (92%) and specific (91%) when compared to the IFAT, wh ich was used as a reference test. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.