ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and L. monocytogenes in the dogs of 15 vil-lages in 7 towns of the Kars Province. The blood samples were taken from 179 house dogs of which 15 were female and 164, male. The ages of the dogs was as follows: 96 of them were 1-3 years old, and 83 of them were 4 years or older. All of the samples were tested with SFDT for T.gondii and OAT for L. monocytogenes. Antibodies against to T. gondii were found in 172 specimens (96.1%). Antibodies against L. monocytogenes were found in 40 of the specimens (22.3%). The seropositivity for T. gondii was 96.3% in males and 93.3% in female dogs. The seropositivity was 94.8% in the 1-3 age group and 96.3% in the group of 4 years or older. For L. monocytogenes, the seropositivity was 22.0% in males and 26.7% in females. The seropositivity was 27.1% in the 1-3 age group and 16.9% in the group of 4 years or older. The results of this study indicate a high prevalence of T.gondii and L.monocytogenes in the region.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, dogs, Kars, Turkey