No abstract

O Toxoplasma gondii, agente da toxoplasmose, encontra-se distribuído mundialmente. No presente estudo, determinou-se a prevalência do T. gondii nas espécies suína, bovina, ovina e eqüina oriundas de fazendas do município de Jaguapitã , através da imunofluorescência indireta para detecção de anticorpos da classe - IgG, considerando-se sororeagentes aqueles títulos maiores ou iguais a 1:64. Verificou-se uma prevalência de 24% em 267 amostras de suínos, 25,8% em 400 amostras de bovinos, 51,8% em 228 amostras de ovinos e 12,1% em 173 amostras de eqüinos. Com relação às faixas etárias, apenas os ovinos e suínos apresentaram diferenças estatísticas significantes, aumentando a soropositividade com as idades, porém, não se verificaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas com base no sexo de nenhuma das espécies animais estudadas. Obtiveram-se correlações entre os títulos de anticorpos interespécie, positivas e significativas, sendo que apresentaram importância epidemiológica aquelas entre as espécies humana-canina (r=0,64 p=0,05), humana-felina (r=0,78 p=0,01), canina-suína (r=0,96 p=0,0001), bovina-ovina (r=0,82 p=0,006), bovina-eqüina (r=0,89 p= 0,001) e ovina-eqüina (r=0,92 p=0,0004), demonstrando que as espécies hominívoras, carnívoras e herbívoras estariam expostas avias de transmissão comuns. Os resultados demostraram a elevada prevalência da toxoplasmose na população estudada e, conseqüentemente, o alto risco da carne como via de transmissão para o homem, quando ingerida crua ou mal cozida.

Cats are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts. The prevalence of T. gondii was determined in 58 domestic cats from 51 homes from Santa Isabel do Ivai, Parana State, Brazil where a water-associated outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis had occurred in humans. Antibodies to T. gondii were found with the modified agglutination test in 49 of 58 (84.4%) cats at a serum dilution of 1:20. Tissues (brain, heart, and skeletal muscle) of 54 of these cats were bioassayed in T. gondii-free, laboratory-reared cats; T. gondii oocysts were excreted by 33 cats that were fed feline tissues. Brains from these 54 cats were bioassayed in mice; T. gondii was isolated from 7. Skeletal muscles and hearts of 15 cats were also bioassayed in mice; T. gondii was isolated from skeletal muscles of 9 and hearts of 13. The results indicate that T. gondii localizes in muscle tissue more than the brains of cats. In total there were 37 T. gondii isolates from 54 cats. Most isolates of T. gondii were virulent for mice. Genotyping of the 37 isolates of T. gondii, using the SAG2 locus, revealed that 15 isolates were type I and 22 were type III. The absence of type II genotype in cats in this study is consistent with the previous studies on T. gondii isolates from Brazil and is noteworthy because most T. gondii isolates from the United States are type II. These findings support the view that Brazilian and North American T. gondii isolates are genetically distinct. This is the first report of genotyping of T. gondii isolates from the domestic cat.

We report on apparent temporal progression of probable sources of infection and transmission routes for global human toxoplasmosis outbreaks as described in published articles. We searched the Scientific Electronic Library Online, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases for articles on Toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis, and outbreaks. We found that transmission routes for Toxoplasma gondii varied by decade. In the 1960s and 1990s, toxoplasmosis outbreaks mainly occurred through ingestion of cysts in meat and meat derivatives; in the 1980s, through milk contaminated with tachyzoites; in 2000, due to the presence of oocysts in water, sand, and soil; and in 2010, due to oocysts in raw fruits and vegetables. Our study suggests a possible change in the epidemiology of reported toxoplasmosis outbreaks. Because of this change, we suggest that greater attention be paid to the disinfection of vegetables, as well as to the quality of water used for drinking and irrigation.

The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with vegetable contamination with zoonotic protozoan. Samples of water, soil and vegetables were collected from July/2014 to May/2016, totaling 83 samples, 21 properties of Londrina region, Paraná, Brazil. DNA amplification of Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis in the samples was conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR results were positive for T. gondii in 12.9% (8/62), Cryptosporidium spp. in 11.3% (7/62) and G. intestinalis in 25.8% (16/62) of the samples. DNA sequencing identified C. parvum in five samples and G. intestinalis Assemblage E in three. The statistical associations demonstrated greater probability of positive samples for T. gondii and for at least one of the three protozoa when the source of irrigation water was the river; a greater chance of positive samples for Cryptosporidium spp. when deer were present on the property; and a smaller chance of positive samples for at least one of the three etiologic agents when soil was supplemented with limestone. The results expose some critical contamination points, providing support for training farmers on good management practices during the production process.

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between seropositivity for IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and socio-economic and environmental variables in pregnant women of Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil. We interviewed 492 pregnant women, each of whom answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and collected blood samples for measurement of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies by chemiluminescence. A confirmatory diagnosis of acute infection was made by an IgG avidity test. Titres of specific IgG anti-T. gondii were obtained by IFAT. Seropositivity for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies was observed in 242 women (49.2%) and, of these, six pregnant women (1.2%) showed seropositivity for IgM. Age group, level of education, per capita income, presence of a cat in the house and a habit of eating green vegetables were all factors associated with a greater chance of infection with T. gondii. This study showed that 250 (50.8%) pregnant women were susceptible to T. gondii and considered to be at high risk for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Based on the results obtained, is critical to establish a program of health surveillance for toxoplasmosis, in order to contribute to diagnosis and early treatment during the prenatal period. It is also necessary to introduce measures to prevent the Toxoplasma infection in seronegative pregnant women.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which has a wide geographical distribution. The main infection routes are ingestion of cysts from raw or badly-cooked meat, ingestion of oocysts from substrates contaminated with the feces of infected felines and congenital transmission by tachyzoites. The congenital form results in a severe systemic disease, because if the mother is infected for the first time during gestation, she can present a temporary parasitemia that will infect the fetus. Many of the clinical symptoms are seen in congenitallyinfected children, from a mild disease to serious signs, such as mental retardation. Early diagnosis during the pregnancy is highly desirable, allowing prompt intervention in cases of infection, through treatment of pregnant women, reducing the probability of fetal infection and consequent substantial damage to the fetus. Conventional tests for establishment of a fetal diagnosis of toxoplasmosis include options from serology to PCR. Prevention of human toxoplasmosis is based on care to avoid infection, understanding the disease and serological exams during gestation. Pregnant women should be tested serologically from three months gestation, until one month after childbirth. Inclusion of serology for congenital toxoplasmosis along with the basic Guthrie test for PKU is of fundamental importance for early diagnosis of infection and so that treatment is initiated, in order to avoid possible sequels in the infant.

correspondência. 4 Acadêmicas do Curso de Medicina Veterinária, bolsistas do CNPq. RESUMO O presente estudo determinou a soroprevalência da toxoplasmose em gatos e cães localizados na zona rural do município de Jaguapitã, Estado do Paraná, através da reação de imunofluorescência indireta para detecção de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii da classe IgG, considerando-se reagentes títulos maiores ou iguais a 1:16. Observou-se uma prevalência de 73 % em 163 soros felinos e 84,1% em 189 soros caninos, sendo que nas duas espécies não houve diferença em relação ao sexo. Em relação aos felinos, o título mais freqüente foi 1: 4096 (28,6%) e o maior título encontrado foi de 1:65536 (0,8%), apresentando diferenças estatísticas com relação ás faixas etárias, e com aumento da soropositividade com a idade. Os títulos mais freqüentes nos caninos foram 1:64 (38,4%), e o maior título foi de 1:4096 (1,9%), com soropositividade menor nos animais com menos de 8 meses. Não houve correlação significativa na distribuição dos títulos de anticorpos entre felinos e caninos. Através do presente trabalho, verificou-se que o T. gondii está amplamente distribuído na população felina e canina da região. SUMMARYThe present study was designed to stablish the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in cats and dogs from a rural area of the Jaguapitã county, Paraná state, Antibodies against-Toxoplasma gondii were detected by indirect immunofluorescence test. Titers than 1:16 were considered positive. A prevalence rate of 73% and 84.1% was observed for cats and dogs respectively . There was no difference related to sender. The most frequent titer in cats was 1:4096 (28.6%), whereas the highest titer found was 1:65536 (0.8%). There was a statistical significant increase in seropositivity with age. The most common titers in dogs was 1:64 (38.4%), whereas the highest titer was 1:4096 (1.9%). There was a decrease in seropositivity in dogs with less than 8 of age. There was no significant correlation in the distribuition of titers between dogs and cats. Based on our data we conclude that T. gondii is widely distributed in dogs and cats from this region.