Anti-toxoplasma 'gondii' and anti-'neospora' caninum antibodies in urban traction equids in northeast Brazil: Seroprevalence and risk factors

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in equids that carry out traction work in Northeastern Brazil, and to establish the potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for these agents. Blood samples were collected from 322 trac...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical medicine and infectious disease 2023-04, Vol.8 (4), p.1-8
Main Authors: Costa, Paulo Wbiratan Lopes, Oliveira, Clarisse Silva Menezes, Bezerra, Roberto Alves, Alvares, Felipe Boniedj Ventura, Formiga, Victor Hugo Alves Sousa, Martins, Marianne Rachel Domiciano Dantas, Feitosa, Thais Ferreira, Vilela, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antigens
Communication
Control
donkeys
Epidemiology
Horses
Immunofluorescence
Infections
Methodology
mules
Multivariate analysis
neosporosis
Protozoa
Questionnaires
Regression analysis
Risk factors
Rural areas
Sample size
Serology
Statistical analysis
Toxoplasma gondii
toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis in animals
Variables
Zoonoses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in equids that carry out traction work in Northeastern Brazil, and to establish the potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for these agents. Blood samples were collected from 322 traction equids (horses, donkeys and mules) in urban areas of 16 municipalities in the State of Paraiba, Brazil. The samples were sent for serological diagnosis using the Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Epidemiological questionnaires were given to the owners to assess the possible risk factors associated with infections. It was observed that 13.7% (44/322, CI: 10.9-16.5) of the equids tested positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies and 5% (16/322, CI: 2.6-7.4) tested positive for anti-N. caninum antibodies. Conducting traction work for over four years was considered a risk factor associated with T. gondii infection (odds ratio: 6.050; CI: 4.38-8.54, p = 0.025). There were no risk factors associated with N. caninum infection. It was concluded that traction equids have a significant prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in urban areas in the State of Paraiba, with an identified risk factor for seropositivity for anti-T. gondii as conducting traction work for more than four years.
ISSN:2414-6366
2414-6366
DOI:10.3390/tropicalmed8040234