Estudo epidemiológico e avaliação de fatores de risco da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii e achados clinico-patológicos da infecção aguda em cães admitidos em um Hospital Escola Veterinário

Abstract

RESUMO.-Esse trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a prevalência e respectivos fatores de risco para infecção do Toxoplasma gondii em cães provenientes de uma população We aimed to verify the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs addimitted at the hospital. We also assessed the occurrence rates and the clinical and pathological repercussion of the acute infection by T. gondii in these animals. Antibodies were detected in 7% (26/386) of a population of 386 dogs of both genders and different breeds and ages. Only variables, eating offal, rural origin and contact with cattle have significant values of p<0.05. Dogs from rural areas showed higher risk (OD=7.00) of infection than those of urban origin. In 6.5% (25/386) contact titles were detected (between 16 and 256); these titles do not necessarily mean acute infection, but only prior exposure. The recognition of prior infection by T. gondii is vital in those hospital patients. Depending on the cause of admission, although not being toxoplasmosis the responsible, the patient should receive prophylactic anti-parasite treatment or be monitored for further treatment in case of further acute occurrence of the disease by recrudescence of encysted bradyzoites. Only one dog (3:44%, 1/386) was admitted with high titer, what may be suggestive of acute infection (title of 4096). Although the dog with acute infection has shown neurological signs, caution is required not to extrapolate a false interpretation that toxoplasmosis is the main responsible for neurological signs, since numerous other cases included in this study had neurological signs without title of acute infection, even title of prior contact. Acute toxoplasmosis was not a significant clinic disease in this hospital; however differential diagnosis should be made in ill patients, especially those from rural areas, and definitive diagnosis must be reached for the correct therapeutic approach.

Toxoplasma gondii in domiciled dogs and cats in urban areas of Brazil: risk factors and spatial distribution

“…In the present study, most seropositive dogs had low antibody titers detected by IFAT (53.7% at 1:16). This profile was also reported by Strital et al [79] in dogs attended at the Veterinary School Hospital of the University of Mato Grosso (1:16-46%), by Brasil [9] in domiciled dogs attended at 34 veterinary clinics in Paraíba (1:16-35.1%), both in Brazil and by Hosseininejad et al [38], in domiciled and stray dogs in Iran (1:16-42.7%). In relation to the seropositive cats detected in this study, the titration most frequently observed in IFAT was 1:64 (59.1%).…”

“…Also, the consumption of homemade food was associated with greater exposure to the protozoan only in the feline population. The consumption of raw meat, offal and leftover homemade food was also associated with seropositivity for T. gondii in other populations of domiciled dogs and cats in Brazil and in other countries [10,13,54,75,79]. This result indicates that the exposure of domiciled dogs and cats to T. gondii occurs in the home environment through the supply of these foods by the owners.…”

“…This questionnaire included epidemiological variables related to general information about the animal's lifestyle and management. To identify possible risk factors for T. gondii infection in these animals, the following variables were selected: sex [52,86], age [5,65], breed [6,56], street access [9,67], contact with cats [12,66], presence of rodents [48], type of food (dry and wet commercial food, meat and embedded, homemade food, offal and other types of food, like fruits and vegetables) [14,79] and water source for animals' consumption [8].…”

“…Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in pets can vary, not only between countries, but also between regions of the same country, and areas of the same city [20]. In general, domiciled animal populations or under the responsibility of owners have a lower frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies compared to stray or shelter populations [4,18,47,55,77,79]. Different risk factors for T. gondii infection have been identified in populations of domestic dogs and cats, including street access, contact with cats, and presence of rodents at home [2,9,12,48,64,66,67,73].…”

“…Among these factors, the type of diet of these animals stands out. Strital et al [79] identified an association between T. gondii seropositivity and offal consumption in dogs treated at a university veterinary hospital.…”