Risk factors and presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Fatores de risco e presença de anticorpos para Toxoplasma gondii em cães do litoral do Estado de São Paulo.] A toxoplasmose é causada por um protozoário parasita intracelular obrigatório, Toxoplasma gondii, e acomete vertebrados homeotérmicos incluindo animais de companhia e o homem. O cão apresenta importância epidemiológica por atuar como sentinela da infecção para o homem. O presente estudo objetivou determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos para T. gondii em 205 amostras de soro de cães do município de Ubatuba, SP, Brasil, pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), assim como os fatores de risco relacionados à infecção nos animais, como raça, idade, sexo, acesso a rua, ingestão de comida caseira, acesso a água não tratada e presença de roedores. 52/205 (25,4%) Toxoplasmosis is caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and affects warm-blooded vertebrates, including pets and man. Dogs are epidemiologically important since they act as sentinels for the infection in humans. The present study aimed to determine the presence of antibodies to T. gondii in 205 serum samples from dogs in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, through indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT), as well as the risk factors related to toxoplasmosis in the animals such as breed, age, sex, access to outdoors, homemade food ingestion, access to untreated water, and contact with rodents. Toxoplasmosis-positive samples accounted for 52/205 (25.4%), with titers ranging from 16 to 256. The serological results presented significant association (P<0.05) with homemade food ingestion (45/118; 38.1%; CI95% 29.9%-47.2%) (OR=7.0; CI95% 3.0-16.6), and with access to outdoors where those that do not have access to the street were prevalent (37/121; 30.6%; CI95% 23.1%-39.3%) (OR=0.5; CI95% 0.2-1.0). These results show that toxoplasmosis in this region is related to problems of sanitary education, mainly concerning the appropriate cooking of foods, since most positive animals did not show significant association with the presence of rodents or untreated water consumption but showed, instead association with ingestion of homemade food. Thus, toxoplasmosis is a public health problem in the studied region, and sanitary measures are needed to control the infection due to the strict relationship between man and dog and the presented risk factors. e acesso a rua, em que aqueles que não tinham acesso a rua foram prevalentes (37/121; 30,6%; IC95% 23,1%-39,3%) (OR=0,5; CI95% 0,2-1,0). Estes resultados demonstram que a toxoplasmose na região está relacionada com problema de educação sanitária, principalmente quanto ao adequado cozimento dos alimentos, visto que a maioria dos animais positivos não apresentou associação significativa com presença de roedores ou consumo de água não tratada, porém os mesmos permaneciam em casa aos quais fora oferecida comida caseira. Portanto, a toxoplasmose consiste em um problema de saúde pública na região estudada, sendo necessárias medidas sanitári-as para o controle da infecção, visto a...

Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in the dog population of Ibiúna, São Paulo, Brazil

“…In our study, dogs that ingested raw meat had 2.47 times the risk of infection than dogs that did not have access to raw meat. Similar results that also support this association were reported by Moura et al (2009) in Lages and Balneário Camboriú, SC, and by Silva et al (2010) in Ubatuba, SP. In Brazil, the habit of feeding leftovers to pets is wellestablished among dog owners, especially in cities where the countryside is close to urban areas, as is the case in Ibiúna.…”

“…For instance, a prevalence of 60.7% was found by Guimarães et al (2009) gondii can vary greatly, because transmission is associated with habits and cultural behaviors as well as socio-economic and health conditions. Habitat is also a factor, because it plays a fundamental role in the viability of the parasite (SILVA et al, 2010 Barbosa et al (2003) in Salvador, Bahia (BA), Langoni et al (2006) in Botucatu, SP, and Silva et al (2010) in Ubatuba, SP. Low titers are indicative of chronic or early phases of infection (CAMARGO, 1975), which may indicate that most examined dogs have been exposed to the parasite and have developed an immunological response by producing specific antibodies.…”

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasmosis in Humans and Dogs From a Small Municipality in Parana, Brazil

“…The titers of antibodies against T. gondii detected in these dogs suggest the chronic phase of infection. Although the owners described the dogs participating in this study as healthy, low morbidity in canine toxoplasmosis was previously verified (27) ; besides, asymptomatic cases are common in chronic infections (28) .…”

Frequência De Anticorpos Anti-Toxoplasma Gondii Em Cães Com Sinais Clínicos Compatíveis Com Toxoplasmose

“…Esta queda no número de animais positivos no decorrer dos anos pode estar associada à popularização da ração animal e diminuição do hábito de oferecer vísceras e tecidos crus aos cães. Moura et al (11) e Silva et al (24) , ao avaliarem fatores de risco para a infecção por T. gondii, encontraram prevalências de 38,1% (45/118) e 74,2% (66/89), respectivamente, e constataram que a alimentação à base de dieta caseira é um fator predisponente para a infecção.…”