Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The presence of IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies was tested using the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 101 (50.5%) and 54 (27%) sampled cats, respectively. The titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies ranged from 40 (cut-off) to 2560. On the other hand, the titers of anti-N. caninum antibodies ranged from 25 (cut-off) to 400. Twenty-seven cats (13.5%) were shown to be seropositive for both parasites. Seventy-four cats (34%) were seropositive only for T. gondii. Twenty-two cats (11%) were seropositive only for N. caninum. The present study showed that cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, are exposed to T. gondii and N. caninum.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, cats, serology. ResumoO presente estudo objetivou verificar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Neospora caninum em gatos com acesso à rua em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. A presença de anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum foi verificado pela Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum foram detectados em 101 (50,5%) e 54 (27%) gatos amostrados, respectivamente. Os títulos de anticorpos anti-T. gondii variaram de 40 (ponto de corte) a 2560. Por outro lado, anticorpos anti-N. caninum variaram de 25 (ponto de corte) a 400. Vinte e sete gatos (13,5%) mostraram-se soropositivos para ambos os parasitas. Setenta e quatro gatos (34%) foram soropositivos somente para T. gondii. Vinte e dois gatos (11%) foram soropositivos somente para N. caninum. O presente estudo demonstrou que gatos com acesso à rua em São Luís, Maranhão, são expostos ao T. gondii e N. caninum.

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

“…There are few reports about the occurrence of N. caninum in cats. In this study, we found a seroprevalence to N. caninum of 22.5%, which is similar to previous reports in cats in the states of São Paulo (24.5%) and Maranhão in Brazil (27%) (BRESCIANI et al, 2007;BRAGA et al, 2012), and in Italy (24.8%) (FERROGLIO et al, 2005), but higher than that found by Dubey et al (2002) among cats sampled in the cities of São Paulo and Guarulhos, Brazil (11.9%). The possibility of crossreactions between T. gondii and N. caninum are remote, because cross-reactivity is observed only when soluble antigens are used, while surface antigens such as those used in IFA usually do not cause cross-reactions (DUBEY et al, 1996;HIGA et al, 2000).…”

“…Due to the importance of these parasites to public health, many surveys have been conducted worldwide showing the seroprevalence of T. gondii in felines (GARCIA et al, 1999;LANGONI et al, 2001;SILVA et al, 2002;DUBEY et al, 2004;PENA et al, 2006;LOPES et al, 2008;ESTEVES et al, 2014). However, there a few reports about the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cats (DUBEY et al, 2002;BRESCIANI et al, 2007;BRAGA et al, 2012).…”

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in domestic cats from the Brazilian semi-arid: seroprevalence and risk factors

“…Many studies work with different cut-offs. In the state of Maranhão, Braga et al (2012) used IFAT with a cut-off of 1:40, observing prevalence of 50.5%.…”

“…Although there is no documented case report of natural infection with N. caninum in cats, experimental infection has already been performed in these animals (Dubey and Lindsay, 1989). There is little information on the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cats in Brazil, being observed only in the state of São Paulo, with frequencies ranging from 11.9 to 24.5% Bresciani et al, 2007), and in the state of Maranhão, with prevalence of 27% (Braga et al, 2012).…”

All about neosporosis in Brazil

“…Cats: In Brazil, studies determining the prevalence of antibodies in serum of cats ( Table 9) found results that range from 0%, in cats from Andradina, SP, and Patos, PB (COELHO et al, 2011;FEITOSA et al, 2014a) to 27% in cats from MA (BRAGA et al, 2012). In animals from SP, NAT antibodies were found in 60 of 502 (12%) .…”