Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Toxoplasma infection linked to breeding problems in dogs
By Akhtardanesh, Baharak et al.·Published in Microbial pathogenesis·2024·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in a breeding kennel with reproductive disorders.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of purebred dogs from a breeding kennel in Iran was tested for Toxoplasma gondii infection, which can affect reproductive health. Out of 46 dogs, 20 tested positive for the infection, but there was no clear link between the infection and reproductive issues like neonatal deaths or male infertility. The study highlighted that managing the environment, such as avoiding raw meat and ensuring cleanliness, could help reduce the risk of infection. Identifying infected dogs allows for better treatment and care to improve overall health in the kennel.
People also search for: dog reproductive problems · Toxoplasma gondii in dogs · how to prevent dog infections · dog breeding health issues
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in dogs is distributed globally. Given the potential impact of T. gondii on human reproductive health and its zoonotic potential, focusing on infected dogs with breeding disorders may provide valuable new insights into the role of toxoplasmosis on reproductive disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the potential role of T. gondii on reproductive disorders by conducting a serosurvey on a kennel with breeding disorders in Kerman, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Purebred dogs with American Kennel Club-certified Pedigrees were randomly selected in both genders from a breeding kennel with a history of reproductive problems such as neonatal deaths, abortion stillbirths, and male infertility. Blood samples were collected from selected dogs, and serosurvey was done with a Toxo-Screen kit using the modified agglutination test (MAT). FINDINGS: From 46 selected breeding dogs, 20 (43.5 %) were positive in the Toxoplasma MAT test, consisting of 24 samples (52.17 %) with different reproductive disorders and 22 (47.83 %) healthy dogs. However, the presence of reproductive disorder had no significant relationship with seropositivity (p = 0.067). Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis had no significant relationship with sex (p = 0.28) and age (p = 0.18) in the studied population. CONCLUSION: Screening with the standard MAT method reduces the risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis by preventing the entry of infected dogs into the kennel, identifying the infected cases to start specific treatments, optimizing the proper nutritional conditions, and ensuring the hygiene of the environment. Fresh/refrigerated raw meat, unpasteurized milk feeding, rodent infestation of grass-covered dog runs, and the main dry food storage facilities were the primary risk factors in kennels.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39151737/