Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats and sheep raised in the State of Piauí in northeast Brazil

Abstract To identify the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in the microregions of the Brazilian State of Piaui, 1964 serum samples from 130 goat and sheep herds were tested using ELISA. Of these, 40.5% (235/580) of goats and 48.7% (182/374) of sheep from the upper-middle Gurgueia microregion (UMGM) had antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii . In the Teresina homogeneous microregion (THM), 49.4% (376/761) of goats and 67.5% (168/249) of sheep were seropositive. We observed that seropositivity in sheep from the UMGM was related to the extensive rearing system. For goats from the UMGM, risk factors included cats feeding on placenta remains, the number of domestic dogs on the farm and gender (female). The risk factors for toxoplasmosis in sheep from the THM included having more than two cats on the farm and domestic and wild dogs having access to herd drinking water. For goats from the THM, risk factors included being bred for meat and gender (female). Therefore, T. gondii is present in goat and sheep herds, suggesting that methods to prevent toxoplasmosis in the UMGM and THM of Piaui, Brazil are necessary.