Comparison of diagnostic techniques for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infections among dairy cows in Thailand

• Main Authors: Chainirun Sunanta(Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok (Thailand). Chiang Rai Provincial Livestock Office), Tawin Inpankaew(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Parasitology), Nongnuch Pinyopanuwat(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Parasitology), Wissanuwat Chimnoi(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Parasitology), Chanya Kengradomkij(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Parasitology), Pipat Arunvipas(Nihon University, Kanagawa (Japan). College of Bioresource Sciences. Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health), Soichi Maruyama(Kasetsart University. Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine), Sathaporn Jittapalapong(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Parasitology) E-mail:fvetspj@ku.ac.th
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: Thai
• Published: Bangkok (Thailand) 2009
• Subjects: Agglutination tests; Dairy cattle; Diagnosis; ELISA; IFAT; Immunofluorescence; Infection; LAMP; LAT; PCR; Protozoa; Thailand; Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii infections in food animals have an impact on economic and public health since this pathogen is the causative agent of abortion and is able to transmit to humans. The efficiency of diagnosis is needed for identification of infected animals to reduce the economic damages and to lower the risk of infection in humans.The objective of this study is to evaluate the practical diagnostic tools to use as a routine diagnosis for veterinary clinicians. Serum samples from 50 dairy cows were evaluated by indirect fluorescnece antibody test (IFAT). Four tests for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), latex agglutination test (LAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and loop mediated amplification (LAMP) were compared to indirect fluorescnece antibody test (IFAT). The highest sensitivity rates were LAT (100 percent). The specificity varied from 82.6 percent (LAMP), 91.3 percent (LAT), and 100 percent (PCR). The result demonstarted that LAT had the high sensitivity and specificity compared to IFAT as a gold standard for diagnosis of T. gondii infections and indicated that LAT should be used as routine diagnostic tests for detection of T. gondii infections of dairy cows in Thailand.