Evaluation of Different Toxoplasma gondii Isolates as Antigens Used in the Modified Agglutination Test for the Detection of Toxoplasmosis in Camels and Donkeys

Abstract: Different isolates of Toxoplasma gondii (RH, equine, camel and sheep) strain were evaluated when used as antigens in the modified agglutination test (MAT) for the detection of antibodies to T. gondii in sera of slaughtered camels and donkeys from Egypt. The camel and sheep strains of T. gondii revealed a higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis in camels (30.7 and 27.3%) than that showed by RH and equine strains (18 and 20%) respectively. Conversely, in donkeys the RH and equine strain antigens revealed high prevalence of toxoplasmosis (44.5 and 52%) than that found by camel and sheep strain antigens (36 and 39%) respectively, when used in MAT at titers of 1:25. The difference in antigenic potency between the different local isolates of T. gondii in this study illustrates the necessity of investigating the suitable isolates of T. gondii as antigens for detection of toxoplasmosis in every animal species, moreover our findings suggested that the slaughtered camels and donkeys were frequently infected with T. gondii so their meat may be an important source of T. gondii infection for human and wild zoo-animals.