SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ONE-HUMPED CAMELS (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) IN QATAR

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondiii recognized as one of the most successful zoonotic parasites globally, infecting a wide range of hosts including camelids. This infection can lead to serious outcomes such as abortion, neonatal death, or fetal abnormalities. Camels play a crucial role in the economic, ecological, and social landscapes of various regions, particularly in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of close health monitoring and disease screening. Hence in this study, sera from 409 dromedary camels (39 males and 370 females) were examined for T. gondii IgG antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). Both univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed using SPSS to identify the risk factors. A seroprevalence of 32% was found with 74% of the reactive specimens exhibiting a MAT titer ≤ 80. Univariate analysis ruled out sex and season as significant risk factors. Multivariable analysis confirmed age and area as statistically significant factors (P value < 0.05) associated with T. gondii seropositivity in camels. Overall, the finding of the present study confirms that T. gondii is prevalent and widely distributed in camels in suburban areas of Qatar. Given the veterinary and economic implications, there is an urgent need for further investigations into the infection's risk factors and its zoonotic impact.