Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats of North West Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic zoonotic diseases with significant economic and public health implications worldwide. Infection with the parasite has a significant adverse effect on sheep and goat production and can frequently go undetected in the herd, resulting in abortions and weak or dead offspring. Although there are few studies on seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infections in livestock in other provinces of South Africa, there is no data in the North West province. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and risk factors associated with exposure in sheep and goats of the North West province of South Africa. Sera from 439 livestock (164 sheep and 285 goats) were collected and analysed for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies using indirect ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). An assessment of potential risk factors in farms associated with seropositivity was also conducted using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of the 439 tested sheep and goats, 13.9% (61/439) were positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Sheep and goats had seroprevalences of 19.5% (32/164) and 10.5% (29/275) respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression model, the risk of acquiring T. gondii was significantly higher in the mixed breed [Odds ratio (OR) = 71.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 266.8-1893.1; p < 0.011)] animals than white dorper sheep and in farms that burn or bury aborted material (OR = 42.04; CI: 179.9-982.5; p = 0.020) compared to those that only burn aborted material. The risk was lower for the farms in Kagisano-Molopo (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-25.4; p = 0.015) and Mahikeng (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-4.9; p < 0.001) local municipalities than Greater Taung local municipality, and for the animals that drink water from dams (OR = 0.03; CI: 0.2-58.8; p = 0.021) than those that drink from boreholes. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence and risk factors associated with transmission observed show that T. gondii infection is widespread in sheep and goats of the North West province.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter species in South Africa: a "One Health" approach using systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance (AR) profiles of Campylobacter spp. isolated from animals, humans, and the environment in South Africa based on available published data. METHODS: Original articles published from January 1, 1990 to January 1, 2021 were searched from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Africa Index Medicus, Scopus, and African Journal Online databases. Data were analyzed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 3.0). RESULTS: After screening, articles on animals (n = 25), humans (n = 7), environment (n = 3), animals/environment (n = 2), and a (n = 1) study on animals, humans, and the environment were included in this review. The pooled prevalence estimates (PPEs) were 28.8%, 16.4%, and 28.4% in animals, humans, and the environment, respectively. The Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli species were commonly isolated from humans, animals, and the environment in South Africa. The AR profiles were screened from 2032 Campylobacter spp., with the highest PPE of AR observed against clindamycin (76.9%) and clarithromycin (76.5%). Campylobacter isolates tested with the disk diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration methods recorded an overall AR prevalence of 35.3% and 37.1%, respectively, whereas multidrug resistance PPE was 35.3%. CONCLUSION: Regular surveillance of Campylobacter spp. prevalence and its antimicrobial resistance strains is recommended, as well as the formulation of a "One Health" approach for better management and control of Campylobacter spp. infection in South Africa.

Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Ehrlichia ruminantium Harbored by Amblyomma hebraeum Ticks of Domestic Ruminants in North West Province, South Africa.

Ehrlichia ruminantium (E. ruminantium) is the causative agent of heartwater disease and it is mainly transmitted to livestock by Amblyomma hebraeum (A. hebraeum) tick in South Africa. This study investigated the occurrence of E. ruminantium and its genetic diversity in ticks within Ngaka Modiri Molema district of North West Province in South Africa. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole A. hebraeum ticks totaling 876 and resulted in a total of 292 pooled DNA samples. Firstly, conventional PCR was used to detect Ehrlichia spp. targeting the dsbA gene, followed by nested PCR targeting the Map1 gene performed on DNA pool samples that were positive from the first PCR. One hundred and six tick DNA pool samples were positive by dsbA gene PCR for the presence of Ehrlichia spp. with minimum infection rate (MIR) of 121, while 13/106 were positive by Map1 PCR with MIR of 15. Different E. ruminantium Map1 genotypes (NWUe1, NWUe2, NWUe3, NWUe5, and NWUe6) were detected from tick samples and were closely related to more than 13 gene sequences of E. ruminantium from the NCBI GenBank database. These findings suggest that there is a significant diversity of E. ruminantium infecting ticks in the study area.