Detection of seropervalence Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Sheep in Tabriz (East Azerbaijan Province), Northwest of Iran, during 2009-2010 by Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT) and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT)

Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution that caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite named Toxoplasma gondii. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughtered sheep in the slaughterhouse of Tabriz from January-March 2009. For this purpose 181 blood samples, based on cross- sectional study, were collected from slaughtered sheep. In laboratory, serums were separated and subjected to Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT) and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Serological results revealed the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep 56.4% and 56.8% on the basis of LAT and SFDT, respectively. Of the 181 samples tested 102 (56.4%) and 103 (56.8%) samples with Direct Agglutination Test and Feldman Dye Test were positive, respectively. From 103 (56.8%) seropositive with Dye Test, 61 samples were titer 1:16 and 34 samples with titer 1:64 and 7 samples with titer 1:256 and 1 was 1:1024. Sensitivity and specificity of Latex Agglutination Test were 86.4% and 83.3%, respectively. Agreement between two tests was 84%. Positive and negative predictive value of Latex Agglutination Test was 87.2% and 82.2%, respectively. Results sowed that Latex Agglutination Test is a suitable method for toxoplasmosis seroepidemiological screening.