Acta Vet. Brno 2009, 78: 259-266
Titres of Specific Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Goats and their Kids
The aim of our study was to perform repeated determination of specific antibody levels in mothers and their kids in order to assess indirectly the possibility of vertical transmission of toxoplasmosis in goats. Twenty-eight goats with their kids were included in the study. The following variables were assessed: number of born kids in relation to antibody titres of goats; levels of specific antibodies in the blood of goats and kids; and concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig), total protein (TP) and total globulins (G) in order to define the end of colostral immunity and the start of active production of antibodies in kids under 69 days of age. Specific antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in goats were detected by IFAT in titres ranging from 0 to 1 280. Out of a total of 28 animals, 5 goats were negative (17.9%) and 23 goats were seropositive (82.1%). The goats delivered 42 kids. A total ratio of number of kids to number of mothers was 1.5. Partial evaluation of results in goats without positive titre against T. gondii before parturition and goats with positive titre showed that negative goats tended to have more kids (p < 0.1) (ratio 1.80) compared to positive goats (ratio 1.35). A significant decrease in levels of TP, Ig and G was observed between days 27 and 41. Samples taken on days 55 and 69 proved gradual increase of active production of antibody response, which was supported also by a significant increase (p < 0.01) of monitored non-specific immunity indicators. During this period, we observed increased titres of specific antibodies against toxoplasmosis in 20 kids (5 kids 41 days old, 5 kids 55 days old, and 10 kids 69 days old) and thus we could assume the possibility of vertical transmission of toxoplasmosis.
Keywords
immunoglobulins, colostral immunity, small ruminants, Zoonosis.
