Toxoplasma gondii in the sheep industry: a global overview and the situation in Brazil

Résumé

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widely studied parasites due to its medical and veterinary importance. The parasitic infection of sheep occurs worldwide, with studies showing prevalences ranging from 1.8% in North Tunisian to 95.7% in Turkey. In this ruminant species, infection with T. gondii causes fetal death, mummification, stillbirth, the birth of debilitated animals and frequent abortion. The latter has been reported as the primary cause of economic losses in the sheep industry because of the high rates of infection. Concerns over toxoplasmosis infections in sheep, as well as the economic losses they can cause, induced this literature review. A review of the topic will provide the reader with some basic information concerning the importance of this parasite in the sheep industry in Brazil and worldwide, which might assist in controlling the disease and promptly identifying the problem in a flock, thus avoiding losses from potential abortions caused by this important parasite.