The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Wang, W. and Gong, Q. L. and Li, M. H. and Wei, X. Y. and Chen, Y. and Jiang, J. and Ni, H. B. and Lyu, C. and Wang, C. R.

Res Vet Sci (2021) 138: 19–29

DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.05.016

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is widespread in warm-blooded animals and humans. Currently, many studies regarding T. gondii infection in sheep have been published worldwide. However, there is no meta-analysis of sheep infection in China. In this study, five databases were used to retrieve articles related to T. gondii in China. A total of 59 studies from 1987 to June 30, 2020, have been included. We estimated that the combined prevalence of T. gondii in the selected period was 8.5% (3197/28,099). In the analysis of publication year, the lowest positive rate after 2010 was 7.4% (1883/17,313). Geographically, the highest prevalence of T. gondii in sheep was recorded in Southwest China 19.2% (490/2080). Analysis according to age showed that the prevalence of infection in sheep older than 12 months was significantly (P \textless 0.05) higher than that in younger animals. The prevalence of T. gondii in sheep farmed by farmers was 7.2% (566/6336), which was higher than 5.3% (660/3121) of large-scale farming, suggesting a role for the feeding and husbandry. We also analyzed the impact of different geographic and climatic factors on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep. The results showed that the prevalence was higher in low altitude, warm, humid, and high rainfall areas. We suggest that appropriate control programs should be formulated according to the differences in reproduction patterns and geographical conditions in different regions to reduce the prevalence of T. gondii among sheep in China.

Citation

Wang, W., Gong, Q. L., Li, M. H., Wei, X. Y., Chen, Y., Jiang, J., Ni, H. B., Lyu, C., & Wang, C. R. (2021). The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Res Vet Sci, 138, 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.05.016 China, Prevalence, Sheep, Diagnosis of Animal Diseases [LL886], meta-analysis, systematic reviews, data analysis, disease prevalence, epidemiology, zoonoses, zoonotic infections, sheep, infections, parasites, parasitoses, protozoal infections, risk factors, diagnosis, control programmes, databases, toxoplasmosis, data banks, Meta-analysis, Toxoplasma gondii, Meteorology and Climate [PP500], Protozoa, Toxoplasma, protozoal diseases, age differences, altitude, climatic factors, control programs, parasitic diseases, parasitic infestations, parasitosis, People’s Republic of China, Protozoan, Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220], Protozoan, Helminth, Mollusc and Arthropod Parasites of Animals [LL822], rain, rainfall, T. Gondii

Keywords

• China
• Prevalence
• Sheep
• Diagnosis of Animal Diseases [LL886]
• meta-analysis
• systematic reviews
• data analysis
• disease prevalence
• epidemiology
• zoonoses
• zoonotic infections
• sheep
• infections
• parasites
• parasitoses
• protozoal infections
• risk factors
• diagnosis
• control programmes
• databases
• toxoplasmosis
• data banks
• Meta-analysis
• Toxoplasma gondii
• Meteorology and Climate [PP500]
• Protozoa
• Toxoplasma
• protozoal diseases
• age differences
• altitude
• climatic factors
• control programs
• parasitic diseases
• parasitic infestations
• parasitosis
• People’s Republic of China
• Protozoan
• Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220]
• Protozoan
• Helminth
• Mollusc and Arthropod Parasites of Animals [LL822]
• rain
• rainfall
• T. Gondii