Comparison Between Nested-PCR and ELISA for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Blood and Milk and its Genotyping in Lactating Goats and Aborted Women in Iraq


 The present study aimed to assess enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nested-polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) methods based on B1 gene for the detection of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii in blood milk local Iraqi goats. SAG3 was also used identify genotyping T. goats aborted women Iraq. A total 240 (80 blood, 80 sera, milk) lactating 30 samples from were included this study. 17 (21.2%) infected found 23 (28.7%) when using n-PCR, while numbers ELISA. Aborted had an overall infection rate 50% ELISA 33% n-PCR. degree agreement between n-PCR almost perfect (Kappa=0.801), with a sensitivity 100 specificity 90.5, there slight (Kappa=0.14) 58.8 74.6 specificity. results comparison showed positive each, 82.4 22.2 specificity, no (Kappa=–0.046). Sequencing goat human isolates that similarity ranged 98.65–99.90% genotypes I III. In conclusion, may be more accurate than detecting milk. addition, phylogenetic tree's evidence high provides further are important reservoir public awareness is necessary.