¹IInstitute of Veterinary Sciences, Saad Dahleb University, BP270, Soumaa, 09000, Blida, ALGERIA
²HASAQ Laboratory, National High School of Veterinary Medicine (NHSVM), Issad Abbes, Oued Smar, Algiers , ALGERIA
³Army Central Hospital, Dr Mohamed Seghir Nekkache, Ain Naadja, BP244 (16208-Kouba), 16048 Djasr Kassentina, Algiers, ALGERIA
⁴NHSVM, Issad Abbes, Oued Smar, Algiers, ALGERIA
⁵LBRA Laboratory, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Saad Dahleb University, Blida, ALGERIA
⁶SPA Laboratory, NHSVM, Algiers, ALGERIA DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2021.26887 Th e present study aimed at the direct detection of parasitic DNA in placenta samples of ewes by PCR targeting the B1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii. We identifi ed also the possible risk factors associated with the infection. A total of 307 female sheep from 23 farms were collected between 2019 and 2020 in the Tebessa region in northeastern Algeria. Data showed that T. gondii DNA was detected in 114 of the 307 tested females (37.1%). Th e on-farm molecular prevalence was 82.6%. High rates were revealed in Bir Al Ater (32.4%) and Tlidjen (43.6%). Th e level of contamination was high in farms applying a sedentary mode (47.6%); this system tends to have a positive eff ect on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis (P<0.05; 95% CI: 0.409-0.544). Moreover, it appears that the relationship between the presence of cats on the farm and the prevalence of the disease was signifi cant (P<0.05; 95% CI: 0.445-0.597). In the same context, primiparous females were 2.54 times more likely to be infected with T. gondii than multiparous animals (P=0.001). To conclude, the prevalence noticed in the present study indicates a generalized exposure of sheep to T. gondii in the northeast of Algeria, which represents a major risk for animal and public health. Th erefore, management measures should be implemented and improved in the farms of this region for better disease control and eradication. Keywords : Algeria, Ewes, Molecular detection, Placenta, Toxoplasma gondii