Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Veracruz State, Mexico and its association with climatic factors

Abstract

BackgroundInfection with Toxoplasma gondii in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is of epidemiological importance because of the risk for transmission to humans. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in 339 water buffaloes in Veracruz State, Mexico using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25). Seroprevalence association with general characteristics of buffaloes and their environment was also investigated.ResultsAntibodies to T. gondii were found in 165 (48.7%) of the 339 buffaloes with MAT titers of 1:25 in 104, 1:50 in 52, and 1:100 in 9. Bivariate analysis showed that seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was similar in buffaloes regardless of their general characteristics i.e., age, sex, and breed. In contrast, the seroprevalence in buffaloes varied significantly with environmental characteristics including altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual rainfall of the municipalities studied. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity in buffaloes was associated with a mean annual rainfall between 1266–1650 mm (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.15-2.94; P = 0.01).ConclusionsResults indicate that environmental characteristics may influence the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in buffaloes. This is the first report on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in buffaloes in Mexico. Further research is needed to assess the risk for infection in humans associated with the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat from buffaloes infected with T. gondii.

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…T. gondii antibodies are less prevalent in cattle and buffaloes comparing with other members of the Bovidae family (e.g., sheep and goats), thus suggesting that large ruminants are more resistant to T. gondii [25]. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in water buffaloes reared in several countries across the globe ranged between 15.2% and 20.4% in south Asia, 36.2% and 48.7% in Veracruz (Mexico), and levels of 14.3% are reached in South-West Iran [27][28][29]. Recently, a study from Romania, that has the second largest population of buffaloes in Europe, after Italy, reported a total of 2.7% prevalence of T. gondii in water buffaloes [30].…”

Seroepidemiology of infection with Neospora caninum, Leptospira, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Veracruz, Mexico

“…Water buffalo raising is gaining popularity in Mexico as an alternative livestock production system [ 24 ]. In the Mexican state of Veracruz, water buffalo and cattle can share the agroecosystem [ 25 , 26 ]. Preliminary findings highlighted the risk for infection with N. caninum, Leptospira , and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in water buffaloes in Mexico [ 24 ].…”

A Review of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Many studies have evaluated risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in buffalo (15,31,38,39,46,47,50). A significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of buffalo from Mexico according to environmental conditions, where water buffalo raised in regions with annual rainfall between 1,266 and 1,650 mm had higher chances to be positive than those raised in regions with higher mean annual rainfall (50). Higher prevalence of IgM antibodies was verified in the monsoon season in Punjab, Pakistan, where the relative humidity, rainfall, and temperature are higher; these are ideal conditions for sporulation of oocysts in the environment (39).…”

“…Other studies have also described age as a risk factor for the development of T. gondii infection in buffalo, where older animals are more seropositive than their younger counterparts (15,31,39), probably due to the higher chance of older animals being exposed to the parasite as age increases. Most studies have not observed a significant association between the gender and seropositivity for toxoplasmosis (31,39,46,47,50); however, a higher prevalence in male buffalo from Iran was observed, but all animals were under 2 years old, the age that was statically associated with infection (38). Conversely, a significant seroprevalence higher in female buffalo from Pakistan was verified with seropositivity being related to a lower immune response during the pregnancy and lactation periods (39).…”

“…Reproductive disorders are usually associated with infection by T. gondii; however, there is only one study in water buffalo that analyzed this association, where two (0.6%) out of 307 female buffaloes from Mexico had a history of abortion and antibodies against T. gondii, resulting in a non-statistically significant association between toxoplasmosis and abortion in water buffalo (50). A recent study reported an association between T. gondii infection and a high number of days open (number of days from calving to conception) in water buffalo, and the authors hypothesized that the disease could result in embryonic death and resorption (45).…”