RESUMO

Toxoplasma gondii is described as a potential cause of abortion in goats and as a threat to public health. To estimate the prevalence of goats infected by T. gondii, in different cities in the Espírito Santo State, and to identify possible risk factors for infection a serological study was conducted. A total of 146 goat serum samples from the cities of Cariacica, Serra and Vila Velha were analyzed. The presence of IgG Class Immunoglobulins was serologically evaluated by Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii was 46.6% (68/146) in both techniques and the same samples got the same results in both techniques. Among the analyzed sera, 70.6% (48/68) exhibited high-avidity IgG antibodies, and 29.4% (20/68) exhibited low-avidity IgG antibodies, suggesting that the infection was chronic in the infected animals. Female sex, age group over two years old, water from the public supply system, storage of food and supplies in an open and unprotected place, and the presence of a domestic cat on the property were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection in goats. The state of Espirito Santo has a high frequency of infected goats, and this is the first research on caprine toxoplasmosis seroepidemiology in that region.

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RESUMO

Feline leishmanial infection is reported worldwide, but the epidemiological role of domestic cats in the leishmaniasis cycle remains unclear, and cats might act as cryptic reservoir hosts in endemic areas with no feline leishmaniosis cases. Considering that, a serological screening for anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies was performed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) in 389 necropsied cats' serum samples from a new visceral leishmaniasis transmission area with no feline leishmanial infection reported to unveil if the cats are being exposed to the parasite. The overall seroprevalence for Leishmania spp. was 11.05% (43/389). No association was found between sex, neutering status, age group, breed, coat length, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection, and Leishmania spp. antibody detection. A positive association was found with coat color (cats within the orange spectrum with white [particolor]) (OR = 2.47, CI 95% 1 - 6.13, P = 0.044) and a negative association (OR = 0.38, CI 95% 0.18 - 0.79, P = 0.01) between feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and IFAT positivity for Leishmania spp. Therefore, it is concluded that the seroprevalence found was greater than 10%, indicating contact of the protozoan with cats in the region served.

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RESUMO

Abstract The aims of the present study were to serosurvey dogs, horses, and humans highly exposed to tick bites for anti-Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. antibodies, identify tick species present, and determine risk factors associated with seropositivity in a rural settlement of Paraná State, southern Brazil. Eighty-seven residents were sampled, along with their 83 dogs and 18 horses, and individual questionnaires were administered. Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was performed on serum samples and positive samples were subjected to western blot (WB) analysis. Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were found in 4/87 (4.6%) humans, 26/83 (31.3%) dogs, and 7/18 (38.9%) horses by IFAT, with 4/4 humans also positive by WB. Ticks identified were mostly from dogs and included 45/67 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 21/67 Amblyomma ovale, and 1/67 A. cajennense sensu lato. All (34/34) horse ticks were identified as A. cajennense s.l.. No significant association was found when age, gender, or presence of ticks was correlated to seropositivity to Borrelia sp. In conclusion, although anti-Borrelia antibodies have been found in dogs, horses and their owners from the rural settlement, the lack of isolation, molecular characterization, absence of competent vectors and the low specificity of the commercial WB kit used herein may have impaired risk factor analysis.

Resumo Os objetivos do presente estudo foram realizar um levantamento sorológico de cães, cavalos e humanos altamente expostos a picadas de carrapatos para anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi s.l., identificar as espécies de carrapatos presentes, e determinar os fatores de risco associados a soropositividade em um assentamento rural do Estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. Oitenta e sete residentes foram amostrados junto com seus respectivos 83 cães e 118 cavalos e questionários individuais foram aplicados. O teste de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) foi realizado nas amostras sorológicas e as positivas foram submetidas a análise por western blot (WB). Anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi foram detectados em 4/87 (4,6%) humanos, 26/83 (31,3%) cães e 7/18 (38,9%) cavalos pela IFI, com 4/4 humanos também positivos pelo WB. Os carrapatos identificados foram em sua maioria de cães e incluíram 45/67 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 21/67 Amblyomma ovale e 1/67 A. cajennense sensu lato. Todos (34/34) carrapatos dos cavalos foram identificados como A. cajennense s.l.. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre idade, sexo ou presença de carrapatos e soropositividade para Borrelia sp. Em conclusão, embora anticorpos anti-Borrelia tenham sido encontrados em cães, equinos e seus proprietários do assentamento rural, a ausência de isolamento, caracterização molecular, ausência de vetores competentes e baixa especificidade do kit comercial de WB utilizado podem ter limitado a análise de fatores de risco.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Abstract The aims of the present study were to serosurvey dogs, horses, and humans highly exposed to tick bites for anti-Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. antibodies, identify tick species present, and determine risk factors associated with seropositivity in a rural settlement of Paraná State, southern Brazil. Eighty-seven residents were sampled, along with their 83 dogs and 18 horses, and individual questionnaires were administered. Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was performed on serum samples and positive samples were subjected to western blot (WB) analysis. Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were found in 4/87 (4.6%) humans, 26/83 (31.3%) dogs, and 7/18 (38.9%) horses by IFAT, with 4/4 humans also positive by WB. Ticks identified were mostly from dogs and included 45/67 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 21/67 Amblyomma ovale, and 1/67 A. cajennense sensu lato. All (34/34) horse ticks were identified as A. cajennense s.l.. No significant association was found when age, gender, or presence of ticks was correlated to seropositivity to Borrelia sp. In conclusion, although anti-Borrelia antibodies have been found in dogs, horses and their owners from the rural settlement, the lack of isolation, molecular characterization, absence of competent vectors and the low specificity of the commercial WB kit used herein may have impaired risk factor analysis.(AU)

Resumo Os objetivos do presente estudo foram realizar um levantamento sorológico de cães, cavalos e humanos altamente expostos a picadas de carrapatos para anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi s.l., identificar as espécies de carrapatos presentes, e determinar os fatores de risco associados a soropositividade em um assentamento rural do Estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. Oitenta e sete residentes foram amostrados junto com seus respectivos 83 cães e 118 cavalos e questionários individuais foram aplicados. O teste de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) foi realizado nas amostras sorológicas e as positivas foram submetidas a análise por western blot (WB). Anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi foram detectados em 4/87 (4,6%) humanos, 26/83 (31,3%) cães e 7/18 (38,9%) cavalos pela IFI, com 4/4 humanos também positivos pelo WB. Os carrapatos identificados foram em sua maioria de cães e incluíram 45/67 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 21/67 Amblyomma ovale e 1/67 A. cajennense sensu lato. Todos (34/34) carrapatos dos cavalos foram identificados como A. cajennense s.l.. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre idade, sexo ou presença de carrapatos e soropositividade para Borrelia sp. Em conclusão, embora anticorpos anti-Borrelia tenham sido encontrados em cães, equinos e seus proprietários do assentamento rural, a ausência de isolamento, caracterização molecular, ausência de vetores competentes e baixa especificidade do kit comercial de WB utilizado podem ter limitado a análise de fatores de risco.(AU)

Assuntos