The seroprevalence of infection by Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. was detected through an indirect immunofluorescence in 70 cats from the Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Anti-T. gondii antibodies (titer >64) were detected in 15.7% (11/70) of animals, whereas positivity for N. caninum (titer 16) was not observed in any animal. Of the cats from urban and rural areas, 10.4% (5/48) and 27.2% (6/22) were positive for T. gondii, respectively. Breed, age, food, and contact with animals of other species were significant for considering the positivity for T. gondii (P ≤ 0.0001). Cats having access to streets (17.1%, 11/64), cats cohabiting with rats (19.6%, 10/51), and cats feeding on homemade food and raw milk (27.2%, 6/22) were positive for T. gondii. In addition, 4.2% (3/70) of the cats were positive for Leishmania spp. by ELISA technique and negative by IFAT without coinfection with T. gondii and Leishmania spp. There was no serological positivity against feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus. In conclusion, T. gondii infection in part of the feline population from Andradina is not linked to immunosuppressions or coinfections but probably to postnatal infection in association with the type of diet and presence of rats.
SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to determine the frequency and intensity of Ancylostoma spp. in 33 dogs and 52 cats by means of coproparasitological examinations and parasitological necropsy, and assess the presence of contaminated feces with eggs of that parasite in public places of Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. (13/19). No association was observed between the number of Ancylostoma spp parasites and age, sex and breed of the animals and also the ratio of EPG counts and the parasitic intensity observed at necropsy (p > 0.05). Based on the high occurrence of hookworm in dogs and cats in this study, the treatment with anti helminthics are needed even in those animals with negative stool tests, besides adopting control of the number of animals in public places, in order to decrease the likelihood of environmental contamination, since this parasite represents a potential hazard to human and animal health.
ResumoEstudos referentes á criptosporidiose são essenciais, devido sua relevância em saúde pública e por sua patogenicidade em animais de produção e de companhia. Nos últimos 20 anos, houve uma rápida expansão das pesquisas envolvendo o gênero Cryptosporidium, em grande parte relacionada a estudos moleculares, propiciando a descrição de várias espécies, genótipos e subtipos do parasito. A caracterização molecular de isolados de diferentes origens (animal, humana e ambiental) tem sido amplamente usada com o intuito de investigar o potencial zoonótico deste protozoário. As formas de transmissão documentadas são de animais para o ser humano, de pessoa para pessoa, por meio de ingestão ou do uso de água destinada a lazer contaminada direta ou indiretamente com oocistos esporulados. A elevada taxa de animais naturalmente infectados e a susceptibilidade ao protozoário justificam a importância de se atentar para a ocorrência desta enfermidade. Assim, são demonstrados aspectos epidemiológicos desta zoonose em animais domésticos. Palavras-chave: Cryptosporidium spp., ruminantes, equinos, caninos, felinos
AbstractStudies related cryptosporidiosis will be essential, due to its relevance in public health and pathogenicity in pets and production animals. Over the past 20 years, there has been a rapid expansion of research involving the Cryptosporidium genus, largely related to molecular studies, providing a description of
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