Detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among horses (Equus caballus) and donkeys (Equus asinus) in Tiaret province, northwestern Algeria

Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic pathogen infecting humans and almost all warm-blooded animals. One of the most common source of human T. gondii infection is ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat. In the present study, antibodies to T. gondii in sera of 293 horses and 30 donkeys in Tiaret province, northwestern Algeria were determined using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Seventy-five of 293 (26%) horses were seropositive, with titers of 1: 25 in 43, 1: 50 in 19, 1: 100 in 11, and 1: 200 in 2. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 9 of 30 (30%) donkeys with titers of 1: 25 in 3, 1: 50 in 3, 1: 100 in 3. Seroprevalence varied in 3 different regions, ranging from 18% to 33.5%. The results of the present study indicated that the rate of infection with T. gondii in horses and donkeys is a little high in Tiaret province, northwestern Algeria in comparison to other surveys in Algeria, which suggests that consumption of horse meat in this area may represent a potential source for human infection with T. gondii.