Seropositivity of Anti- Toxoplasma gondii and Anti- Neospora caninum Antibodies in Cattle Intended for Human Consumption in an Amazonian Area of North Brazil

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

article

Victor Hugo Alves Sousa Formiga¹  Felipe Boniedj Ventura Alvares¹  Mariana Moreira Anjos²  Jefferson Vieira Freitas²  Daiane Peixer Silva²  Roberta Nunes Parentoni³  Arthur Willian Lima Brasil³  Gláucia Diojânia Azevêdo Medeiros¹  Thais Ferreira Feitosa¹  Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela¹ 

[1] Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal da Paraíba—IFPB;Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Rondônia—UNIR;Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

关键词: Amazon forest;    cattle farming;    neosporosis;    toxoplasmosis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/tropicalmed8070359

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular intestinal coccidia distributed worldwide, and are causative agents of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies and the factors associated with infections in beef cattle intended for human consumption in an Amazonian area of North Brazil. We collected blood samples of 387 cattle from 50 herds located in different municipalities of the State of Rondônia. An epidemiological questionnaire was distributed to farmers, with regard to nutritional, sanitary and reproductive herd management. The samples were identified, refrigerated and sent for serological analyses via IFAT (Immunofluorescent Antibody Test). Among the 387 analyzed animals, 91 (23.5%; CI 95%: 18.8–27.2) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titers varying from 1:64 (75.8%) to 1:512 (2.2%). For anti-N. caninum antibodies, only four animals (1%; CI 95%: 0–2.7) were positive, with titers ranging from 1:400 (50%) to 1:1600 (25%). We observed a significant rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the variables “pure breed” and “contact with free-range chickens” (p < 0.2). There were no risk factors associated with the presence of anti-T. gondii or anti-N. caninum antibodies. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in beef cattle intended for human consumption in the State of Rondônia, Brazil, and a low prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies. Longitudinal studies can better elucidate the cause of these prevalence levels and how they could be better prevented and controlled.

【 授权许可】

CC BY