Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in horses in Niğde Province of Turkey.

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii specific antibodies in local horses from four districts of Niğde in the middle of Turkey, between April-June 2004. Serum samples were obtained a total of 125 horses which consisted of 81 (50 female, 31 male) 1-10 years old and 44 (25 female, 19 male) 11-20 years old and tested for antibodies to T. gondii using the Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT). According to the results of the SFDT, antibodies to T. gondii were found by the SFDT in 9 (7.2%) of 125 sera with the titers of 1:16 (8 horses) and 1:64 (1 horse). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 6 (7.40%) of 81 horses (1-10 years old) and 3 (6.81%) of 44 horses (11-20 years old). From the 5 (10%) out of 50 male horses and the 4 (5.33%) out of 75 female horses were detected anti-T. gondii antibodies. No statistically significant difference in age groups (p > 0.01) and genders (p > 0.005) were observed between the seropositive and seronegative horses using the x(2) test. Seropositivity rates ranged from 2.85% to 11.42%, depending on the study sites. In regard to study sites, there was no statistically significant difference was found (p > 0.005). This is the first serological report on toxoplasmosis in horses from Niğde of Turkey.