Soroprevalência de Toxoplasma gondii em equídeos do Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

RESUMO.-Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a soroprevalência da toxoplasmose em equídeos mantidos em diferentes formas de manejo no estado de Pernambuco. Para tanto, um total de 400 amostras de soro sanguíneo de equídeos clinicamente saudáveis foram analisados através do teste de aglutinação modificado (MAT) considerando-se cut-off de 1:25. Dados referentes às características dos animais e dos rebanhos, sistema de criação, presença de outros animais, idade, sexo, raça, aptidão, condição física foram coletados por meio de questionários investigativos. Anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii foram detectados em 12,5% (50/400) dos animais analisados. Dos 12 municípios estudados, houve positividade em 91,67% (11/12) com variação entre 4,4% e 33,3%. Quando avaliados os fatores de risco, apenas o fator mesorregião (p=0,029) apresentou associação com a infecção, particularmente Zona da Mata (OR=3), seguida de Região Metropolitana do Recife (OR=2,2), Agreste (OR=1,7) e Sertão (OR=1). Os resultados revelam a presença do parasito na área estudada, o que pode representar um elo na cadeia de transmissão da toxoplasmose a qual tem repercussão em saúde pública tendo em vista que o Brasil é o oitavo maior exportador de carne equina do mundo. This paper reports seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in horses kept in different forms of breeding system in the state of Pernambuco. For that, 400 blood serum samples from clinically healthy horses were analyzed through the test of modified agglutination (MAT) considering cut-off of 1:25. Data related to the characteristics of the animals and herds, breeding system, presence of other animals, age, gender, breed, aptitude, and physical conditions were collected throughout investigative surveys. IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 12.5% (50/400) of the analyzed animals. In the 12 studied towns, there was a positivity in 91. 67% (11/12) with a variation between 4% and 33.3%. When the risk factors were evaluated, only the mesoregion factor (p=0.029) had an association with the infection, particularly the Zona da Mata region (OR=3), followed by the Recife Metropolitan Area (OR=2.2), Agreste region (OR=1.7) and Sertão region (OR=1). The results shows the presence of the parasites on the studied area, which may represent a link with the transmission chain of toxoplasmosis which has influence on the public health system, considering that Brazil is the eighth greatest exporter of equine meat in the world.

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and risk factors associated with infection in equids slaughtered for human consumption in Brazil

“…Also, the prevalence of 14.4% of antibodies against T. gondii in animals from the state of Alagoas was reported by Valença et al (2015). Otherwise, in the state of Pernambuco detected anti-T. gondii antibodies in 12.5% of the analyzed animals (Guerra et al, 2018). In Romania and China higher prevalences have been reported (Pastiu et al, 2015;Yang et al, 2013).…”

“…In this study, no occurrences of T. gondii infection were detected in equids in municipalities in the state of Bahia, whereas the animals in the state of Goiás presented high frequencies of specific antibodies to the parasite. This difference can be explained, for example, in terms of differences in climatic conditions, since the climate of certain regions can often favor or hinder sporulation of T. gondii oocysts and consequently contamination of food, water and soil (Guerra et al, 2018).…”

“…In Brazil, the frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies in equids ranges from 10% to 28%. It has been detected in all Brazilian regions and in different animal populations (Gennari et al, 2015;Ribeiro et al, 2016;Moura et al, 2016;Venturi et al, 2017;Guerra et al, 2018;Moreira et al, 2019).…”

“…Although there is still little information on the role of donkeys in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis, findings of anti-T. gondii antibodies in this species have shown that the meat of these animals is a possible source of infection (Machacova et al, 2014). Compared with horses, few studies in Brazil have evaluated exposure of donkeys to T. gondii (Oliveira et al, 2012(Oliveira et al, , 2013Gennari et al, 2015;Guerra et al, 2018). Some studies have suggested that there is a possibility of transmission through consumption of raw asinine milk, but although DNA of the parasite was detected, the infective capacity of the samples was not proven (Mancianti et al, 2014.…”

Occurrence of anti Sarcocystis spp., anti Toxoplasma gondii, and anti Neospora spp. antibodies in equines from western Santa Catarina, Brazil

“…The worldwide seroprevalence of T. gondii in equines ranges from 0% to 72.2% (Meng, Li, Yao, Cong & Shan, 2018). Studies carried out in Brazil have demonstrated variation of seropositive animals in different regions, with values of 12.5% in the Northeast region (Guerra et al, 2018), 7.8% in Paraíba (Oliveira et al, 2012), and 14.4% in Alagoas (Valença et al, 2015); 17.0% in Paraná (Finger et al, 2013) and 32.1% in Santa Catarina (South region) (Cazarotto et al, 2016); 19.9% in Minas Gerais (Southwest region) (Ribeiro et al, 2016); and 18.5% in Roraima (North region) (Spohr et al, 2018).…”