T. gondii is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis, a worldwide zoonotic disease relevant in human and veterinary medicine. In Algeria, few reports focused on the presence and circulation of this parasite in the local goat population. The aim of the survey was to evaluate toxoplasmosis seroprevalence and associated risk factors. Sera from 460 goats reared on 72 farms in northeastern Algeria were collected and tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii by an indirect ELISA. To identify risk factors, a linear regression analysis of the variables was performed. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 94.44% (68/72; 95% CI: 73.34–119.73) of goat farms and in 53.26% (245/460; 95% CI: 46.80–60.36) at the individual level. The multivariable analysis showed that seasonal pasture (OR = 3.804; 95% CI: 3.321–4.358; p = 0.003), presence of water source in pasture area (OR = 4.844; 95% CI: 1.942–7.789; p = 0.0004), use of anthelminthics (OR = 2.640; 95% CI: 1.592–3.146; p = 0.036), number of cats, hygiene, proportion of abortions, number of abortions in the last year, year of sampling, region, and season were the variables significantly associated with T. gondii seropositivity. Abortions in goat herds seem to be related to T. gondii exposure, thus it is crucial to undertake measures and strategies to reduce, control, and prevent toxoplasmosis infection in goats, and thereby in humans, from Algeria.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important foodborne diseases in humans, potentially acquired by ingesting unpasteurized goat milk. This study examined the role of goat milk as a source of infection of Toxoplasma gondii for humans in Algeria. Sera, blood, and milk samples collected from 106 female goats were tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii and its DNA, using indirect ELISA and PCR, respectively. Multiplex PCR was performed using 15 microsatellite markers to determine the clonal type of the T. gondii DNA detected. Seropositive results were found in 51 she-goats (48.11%). T. gondii DNA was detected in 16 (15.09%) and 15 (14.15%) blood and milk samples, respectively. In total, 15 (29.41%) out of 51-seropositive goats were PCR-positive for blood, while only 6 of them (6/15, 40%) showed the presence of T. gondii DNA in their milk. A fair correlation was found between indirect ELISA and PCR assays for T. gondii detection in milk (K = 0.2243) and blood (K = 0.28300), with a substantial difference in the screening ability of the tests (G2 = 38.96, p < 0.0001). The genotyping of samples could not be completed, but showed the absence of type I and type III lineages in goats from the Mila region, northeastern Algeria. The Algerian goat population is highly exposed to T. gondii, with a potentially increased risk of parasite transmission to humans via milk consumption.

Research on the use of traditional medicine for breast cancer (BC) treatment is widespread and plays a significant role in healthcare provision. This study aimed to identify the specific plants used in traditional medicine in the M’sila province (Algeria) for BC management. An ethnobotanical study was conducted from mid-February to April 2023. Direct interviews were held, and semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the local population. As a result we identified 18 medicinal plant species with substantial use values (UV > 0.1), belonging to 15 families, mostly the Zingiberaceae, Lamiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and Asteraceae. The most frequently cited species included Curcuma domestica Valeton., Ephedra alata Decne, Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Allium sativum L., Linum usitatissimum L., Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Annona muricata L., and Atriplex halimus L. Most commonly, leaves (30.2%) or all parts (20.5%) were used. The majority of the remedies were prepared in the form of decoction (39.0%) and powder (26.2%). The valuable ethnobotanical data from the M’sila region contribute to the knowledge of medicinal plants for BC treatment, and the findings may help to identify new anti-BC agents.

Blastocystis is a ubiquitous intestinal protist that infects a broad range of vertebrate hosts, including equines. In this study, we characterized the prevalence, associated risk factors, and subtype diversity of Blastocystis sp. in fecal samples from five equine species (horses, donkeys, ponies, mules, and a zebra) collected from four Algerian provinces between December 2021 and December 2022. Of 197 fecal samples examined using microscopy and probe-based quantitative PCR (qPCR), 74 (37.6%) were positive for Blastocystis sp. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between Blastocystis detection and equine species (p = 0.009), breeding system (p = 0.039), and climate zone (p = 0.045): horses (45.2%, 47/104) had a higher detection rate than donkeys (27.0%, 24/89), and animals raised under intensive systems (55.3%, 21/38) were more frequently positive than those in semi-extensive (36.7%, 11/30) or extensive (32.6%, 42/129) systems. Detection rates were higher in semi-arid (48.7%) and humid (30.6%) zones than in arid (25.0%) and sub-humid (15.8%) zones. No variable retained independent significance in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Subtype determination was performed by nested PCR and Sanger sequencing of the SSU rRNA gene. Among 25 sequences of sufficient quality for subtype assignment, seven subtypes were identified: ST1 (n = 3, 12%), ST2 (n = 3, 12%), ST3 (n = 3, 12%), ST4 (n = 9, 36%), ST10 (n = 3, 12%), ST24 (n = 1, 4%), and ST33 (n = 3, 12%). Two additional sequences displayed polymorphisms consistent with ST48 but were too short for definitive assignment (ST48-like). Horses harboured subtypes ST1–ST4, ST10, ST33, and ST48-like; donkeys harboured ST1, ST2, ST4, ST24, ST33, and ST48-like; and ST10 was identified in mule and zebra samples. This is the first molecular survey of Blastocystis sp. in equines from Algeria and reveals the presence of zoonotic subtypes (ST1–ST4) alongside the putatively equid-associated subtype ST33, underscoring the importance of investigating equines as potential reservoirs under a One Health umbrella.