Clinico-Pathological and Etiological Characterization of an Outbreak of Abortion Caused by Toxoplasma gondii in a Herd of Dairy Goats in Palestine

Authors

  • A. H. Dalaab Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
  • S. Barhoom Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
  • Z. Bani Ismail Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan

Keywords:

Toxoplasma gondii, abortion, dairy goats, Palestine, ELISA

Abstract

An outbreak of abortions occurred in a farm of dairy goats (Anglo-Nubian cross) in Palestine.  All 30 goats in the farm either aborted (n=18), had still births (n=10) or mummified fetus (n=2). All abortions occurred in the last trimester of gestation in both primiparous and pleuriparous goats. Grossly, the fetal membranes showed many cotyledonary necrotic foci (2-3 mm in diameter) and intercotyledonary edema. Histologically, there were multiple foci of necrosis in the cotyledons and focal microgliosis in the brain of aborted fetuses. A diagnosis of T. gondii was confirmed by a fourfold increase in convalescent antibody titers using ELISA. This is the first well-studied outbreak of abortion in dairy goats in Palestine. 

Author Biographies

A. H. Dalaab, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine

Department of Clinical Studies

S. Barhoom, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine

Department of Clinical Studies

Z. Bani Ismail, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Robert Koch on a visit to IVRI, Mukteshwar -1897

Published

2013-01-01

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2

Section

Short Communications