Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs of riverside communities of Mato Grosso Pantanal, Brazil

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan with worldwide distribution and dogs act as sentinels of human infection. This search aimed to determine the occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii in dogs of the communities on the Cuiabá River, Mato Grosso and variables associated with infection. The dogs of the riverside communities in Cuiabá River, which includes Barranco Alto, Praia do Poço, Engenho Velho, Varginha, Bom Sucesso, Passagem da Conceição and São Gonçalo Beira Rio, were evaluated for the presence of T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The prevalence and factors associated with infection were calculated by chi-squared test (χ 2 ) or Fisher's exact test, and univariate and multiple analysis. Of the 248 dogs surveyed, 107 (43.1%) were seropositive for T. gondii. The seroprevalence ranged from 25.6% to 64.3%. There was no statistically significant difference between the communities studied (p > 0.05). As for the associated factors, the only statistically significant factor was that of dogs living with cats (p = 0.02), with approximately twice the risk of acquiring infection. In conclusion, the seroprevalence in dogs of riverside communities in the Baixada Cuiabana demonstrated that high rates of infection, being the factor associated with infection, contact with domestic cats.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, dogs, associated factors, Cuiabá River, Pantanal, Brazil. ResumoToxoplasma gondii é um protozoário intracelular com distribuição mundial e o cão atua como sentinela para infecção humana. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos contra T. gondii em cães de comunidades ribeirinhas ao Rio Cuiabá, Mato Grosso e as variáveis associadas à infecção. Os cães das comunidades ribeirinhas do Rio Cuiabá, que inclui Barranco Alto, Praia do Poço, Engenho Velho, Varginha, Bom Sucesso, Passagem da Conceição e São Gonçalo Beira Rio, foram avaliados para a presença de anticorpos para T. gondii pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). A prevalência e fatores associados com a infecção foram calculados pelo teste de qui-quadrado (χ 2 ) ou exato de Fisher, e análise univariada e multivariada. Dos 248 cães estudados, 107 (43,1%) foram soropositivos para T. gondii. A prevalência variou de 25,6% a 64,3%. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as comunidades estudadas (p > 0,05). Quanto aos fatores associados, o único fator estatisticamente significante o convívio com gatos (p = 0,02), com cerca de duas vezes mais risco de adquirir a infecção. Em conclusão, a soroprevalência em cães de comunidades ribeirinhas da Baixada Cuiabana demonstram altas taxas de infecção, sendo o fator associado à infecção, o contato com gatos domésticos.

Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiin domestic pets from metropolitan regions of Panama

“…In Bogota (Colombia), Dubey et al reported seroprevalence of 16.8% in unwanted dogs [6]. In Brazil, Brandao et al [1] and Rodrigues et al [29] reported 40.90% and 43.1% seroprevalence in domestic dogs from Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso (Pantanal), respectively. In Madrid (Spain), a seroprevalence of 32.3% was found in stray cats, whereas in Thailand and New Caledonia, seroprevalence values were 11.0% and 32.8%, respectively.…”

“…For example, intake of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts, contact with oocysts-contaminated food, water, and soil, and mother to offspring transmission, are some factors involved in the epidemiology of this disease [29]. For dogs, coprophagy and rolling in cat excrement are some of the risk factors involved in transmission [8].…”

Occurrence of Toxoplasmosis in Baquba City, Diyala, Iraq

“…Approximately one-thirds of all humanity has been exposed to this parasite, but the seroprevalence varies considerably between countries and population group [12]. Socioeconomic and environmental factors have been associated with transmission and consequently, a higher prevalence of T. gondii, for example, intake of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts, contact with oocysts-contaminated food, water, and soil, and mother to offspring transmission, are some factors involved in the epidemiology of this disease [24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Humans may remain infected for life and will stay asymptomatic unless immunesuppre-ssion occurs [31].…”

“…and only 10 men showed positive reaction to IgM in ELISA. There were significant differences between age groups as (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) and (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32) year the highest percentage and (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57) was the lowest. However, [53] showed that male more susceptible than female to many seropositive parasites Al-Ghezy [54] referred that the highest infection rate has scored in age group (36-40) years 30.5%.…”

Prevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dogs in the municipality of Poconé, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

“…Information about the epidemiology of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis has been reported in several places in Brazil, proving the widespread circulation of these protozoans (Acosta et al, 2016;Brasil et al, 2018;Cerqueira-Cézar et al, 2017;Langoni et al, 2014). The presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies has also been reported in different animals, including cattle and dogs, in the state of Mato Grosso (Benetti et al, 2008;Benetti et al, 2009;Boa Sorte et al, 2015;Melo et al, 2012;Rodrigues et al, 2016). In the Pantanal wetlands, equids have been found seropositive for both N. caninum and T. gondii (Borges et al, 2017).…”