Retrospective Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Goats from Marmara Region, Türkiye

Toxoplasmosis is regarded as one of the most significant parasitic diseases affecting a wide range of hosts worldwide, including humans, wild animals, domestic animals and birds. In infected animals, it causes important economic losses due to abortion and neonatal mortality, and it also has zoonotic importance because transmission to humans may occur through direct contact with cats, contamination of environmental resources by cat feces, consumption of unpasteurized milk, eating undercooked meat or handling raw meat. This study was carried out to determine the serological status of Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats from the Marmara Region. Serum samples from 270 goats older than one year of age were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Test. Antibodies were detected in 76 animals (28.14%), while 194 samples (71.85%) were negative. Our findings indicate that exposure to T. gondii is common in goats raised in the Marmara Region. Overall, the results emphasize the need for continued monitoring and preventive measures from the perspectives of food safety, animal and public health.