Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Neospora caninum</i> in urban and rural dogs from southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are protozoans infecting a wide range of mammals; the etiologic agents of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis respectively, This study investigated the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs from southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 233 serum samples were obtained from both urban and rural areas of Oyo state, Nigeria and tested by the western blotting technique for specific IgG to T. gondii and N. caninum. Results: The seroprevalence obtained for T. gondii was 19% (44/233) and 2.1% (5/233) for N. caninum in the dogs examined. Overall, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was more significant than for N. caninum (P< 0.0001). T. gondii infection was also found to be more significant in roaming than in caged dogs (P< 0.05). There was no significant association of other factors (age, breed, history of rabies vaccination, use of dog and the level of education of owner) with the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum infection. Conclusion: This report revealed that T. gondii infection is more common than N. caninum infection in Nigerian dogs, it suggests that improper housing and feeding of dogs could increase the risk of exposure to T. gondii infection. This is the first study to investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in Nigerian dogs and T. gondii antibodies in dogs in southwestern Nigeria.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. in hunting dogs from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

“…It occurs probably because hunting dogs have free access to water and food, which could be contaminated with oocysts and tissue cysts (AyINMODE et al, 2016). The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies observed in this study was lower than studies with hunting dogs from southern Spain and northern Africa (CANO-TERRIZA et al, 2016); however, it was higher from hunting dogs from Nigeria (AyINMODE et al, 2016) and Italy (MACHACOVA et al, 2016). Differences in geographical regions, serological tests, and cut-off can explain the variability of these results (ANVARI et al, 2020).…”

“…These factors could also explain the different results of the seroprevalence of N. caninum in hunting dogs (AyINMODE et al, 2016;COLLANTES-FERNANDEZ et al, 2008;MACHACOVA et al, 2016). However, the seroprevalence observed in this study is similar to the average seroprevalence in domestic dogs of the American continent between 1990-2018 (15.2%) (ANVARI et al, 2020).…”

“…Different studies have shown a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in hunting dogs than domiciliated dogs (AyINMODE et al 2016;MACHACOVA et al, 2016;MACHADO et al, 2019;ORR et al, 2019). It occurs probably because hunting dogs have free access to water and food, which could be contaminated with oocysts and tissue cysts (AyINMODE et al, 2016). The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies observed in this study was lower than studies with hunting dogs from southern Spain and northern Africa (CANO-TERRIZA et al, 2016); however, it was higher from hunting dogs from Nigeria (AyINMODE et al, 2016) and Italy (MACHACOVA et al, 2016).…”

“…The dogs were trained to practice illegal hunting of jaguars in the Cerrado and Pantanal region, which could explain this high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, since a previous study showed 100% of seropositivity for T. gondii in jaguars from these regions, evidencing the importance of this species in maintaining the parasite in nature (FURTADO et al, 2015). Different studies have shown a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in hunting dogs than domiciliated dogs (AyINMODE et al 2016;MACHACOVA et al, 2016;MACHADO et al, 2019;ORR et al, 2019). It occurs probably because hunting dogs have free access to water and food, which could be contaminated with oocysts and tissue cysts (AyINMODE et al, 2016).…”

Toxoplasmosis in Nigeria: the story so far (1950-2016): a review

“…In recent times, the study of toxoplasmosis has employed serological methods like the enzyme linked imuunosorbent assays (ELISA) or enzyme immunoassay (EIA), an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), modified agglutination test (MAT), haemagglutination test (HA), latex agglutination test (LAT) (Aganga and Ortese 1984, Ishaku et al 2009, Kamanai et al 2010a, Alayande et al 2012a, Ogoina et al 2013, Oyinloye 2014, Ayinmode et al 2015 and Western blotting technique (Ayinmode et al 2016a). Meanwhile, the use of molecular tools has been sparingly applied (Kamani et al 2010b).…”