Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum and Neospora caninum in cats from an area endemic for leishmaniasis in Brazil

Abstract

An investigation was made into the occurrence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum and Neospora caninum in 151 domestic cats, based on the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Serum samples were collected from 151 domestic cats (65 free-roaming and 86 domiciled cats; 55 males and 96 females) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil between January and April 2013. IgG antibodies to T. gondii, L. infantum and N. caninum were found, respectively, in 49 (32.5%), 34 (22.5%) and 10 (6.6%) sampled cats. A positive correlation was found between T. gondii and N. caninum, T. gondii and L. infantum, and N. caninum and L. infantum (p < 0.05) infections. Also, a significant interaction was identified between gender and area of activity on the probability of T. gondii (p = 0.0324) infection. However, no significant interaction was observed between gender and area of activity on infections by either N. caninum or L. infantum. This study showed that cats from an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil are exposed to three different protozoans, two of which are causal agents of important zoonosis.Keywords: Cats, Leishmania infantum, Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, serology, Brazil. ResumoO presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum e Neospora caninum, em 151 gatos, por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Entre os meses de janeiro e abril de 2013, amostras de soro foram coletadas de 151 gatos domésticos (65 gatos errantes e 86 gatos domiciliados; 55 machos e 96 fêmeas), de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii, anti-L. infantum e anti-N. caninum foram encontrados em 49 (32,5%) , 34 (22,5%) e 10 (6,6%) gatos amostrados, respectivamente. Verificou-se uma associação estatisticamente significativa entre as infecções por T. gondii e N. caninum, T. gondii e L. infantum e N. caninum e Leishmania infantum (p < 0,05). Além disso, foi observada uma interação significativa entre sexo, área de atividade na probabilidade de infecção por T. gondii (p = 0,0324). No entanto, não foi observada interação significativa entre sexo e área de atividade nas infecções por N. caninum e L. infantum. Este estudo mostrou que os gatos de uma área endêmica brasileira para leishmaniose visceral são expostos a três diferentes protozoários, sendo dois deles importantes agentes zoonóticos.

Serological and molecular investigation of Leishmania spp. infection in cats from an area endemic for canine and human leishmaniasis in Northeast Brazil

“…The FeL seropositivity here was higher than that observed in Recife and Teresina, where 3.9% and 4% of the cats were found be seropositive for FeL using ELISA (SILVA et al, 2014;MENDONÇA et al, 2017). Sero-epidemiological investigations in other regions of the country found frequencies varying from 0.5% to 54%, using IFAT and the same cut-off value adopted here (1:40) (VIDES et al, 2011;CARDIA et al, 2013;BRAGA et al, 2014;SOUSA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2015;GODOI et al, 2016;COURA et al, 2018;MATOS et al, 2018). In canine leishmaniasis, high serological titers (four times the established cut-off value) with clinical signs compatible with leishmaniasis are diagnostic for the disease (SOLANO-GALLEGO et al, 2011).…”

“…In Brazil, studies on FeL using serological, parasitological, and molecular methods revealed that infection frequencies varied from 0% to 54% (BRESCIANI et al, 2010;VIDES et al, 2011;CARDIA et al, 2013;BRAGA et al, 2014;SILVA et al, 2014;SOUSA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2015;GODOI et al, 2016;MENDONÇA et al, 2017;COURA et al, 2018;MATOS et al, 2018). Only a small fraction of these studies was performed in the Northeast region that was home to 82.5% of all reported cases of human leishmaniasis in Brazil between 1980 and 2005, making this region an area of epidemiological relevance for this disease in Brazil (MAIA-ELKHOURY et al, 2008;SILVA et al, 2014;MENDONÇA et al, 2017).…”

Seroepidemiological study of canine <i>Leishmania infantum</i> and <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infections in Shanghai, China, and analysis of risk factors

“…In dogs, T. gondii generally does not cause primary infection unless preceded by an immunosuppressive disease [33]. A significant association has previously been found in several studies between L. infantum and T. gondii in dogs, suggesting that the immunosuppression caused by L. infantum may enhance the susceptibility of dogs to T. gondii [31,32,34]. However, this hypothesis lacks scientific corroboration.…”

Arthropod-borne agents in wild Orinoco geese ( Neochen jubata ) in Brazil

“…Ten microliters of two fold dilutions of sera (cut-off of 1:40) were placed in wells on antigen slides. Known positive serum samples for the studied agents were obtained from naturally infected deer [26] and dogs [27] from Brazil. Negative serum samples were obtained from wild deer captured in Brazil [26], and dogs maintained in the kennel of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, that had not been exposed to these agents, according to negative PCR and IFAT results.…”