Seroepidemiological survey of anti-'Toxoplasma gondii' and anti-'Neospora caninum' antibodies in domestic cats ('Felis catus') in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondonia, north Brazil

• Published in: Tropical medicine and infectious disease 2023-04, Vol.8 (4), p.1-8
• Main Authors: Silva, Ana Luzia Peixoto, Lima, Estefany Ferreira, Silva Filho, Geraldo Moreira, Ferreira, Larissa Claudino, Campos, Beatriz de Andrade, Bison, Ividy, Brasil, Arthur Willian de Lima, Parentoni, Roberta Nunes, Feitosa, Thais Ferreira, Vilela, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Cats; Communication; Diagnosis; Diseases; Dogs; Food; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Multivariate analysis; Parasites; Population; Prevention; Questionnaires; Serology; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis in animals; Zoonoses; zoonosis
• ISSN: 2414-6366; 2414-6366
• DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040220

Epidemiological studies on infections by 'Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum' in cats in the North Region of Brazil are scarce. We intended to assess the seroprevalence in cats of anti-'T. gondii and anti-N. caninum' antibodies, as well as the associated risk factors that may lead them to contract these infections in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondonia, North Brazil. For this, blood serum samples of 100 cats from different regions of the city were evaluated. To assess possible factors associated with infections, epidemiological questionnaires were applied to tutors. The Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) was performed for anti-'T. gondii' (cutoff 1:16) and anti-'N. caninum' (cutoff 1:50) antibodies. After identifying the positive samples, antibody titration was performed. The results showed the prevalence of 26% (26/100) of anti-'T. gondii' antibodies, with titration varying between 1:16 to 1:8192. There were no factors associated with the prevalence of anti-'T. gondii' antibodies in the multivariate analysis in this study. There was no occurrence of seropositive cats for anti-'N. caninum'. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of anti-'T. gondii' antibodies in cats in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondonia, North Brazil. However, the evaluated animals did not present anti-'N. caninum' antibodies. Therefore, knowing that 'T. gondii' has different transmission forms, we emphasize the importance of spreading more information to the population about cat's relevance in the 'T. gondii' life cycle and how to avoid the parasite transmission and proliferation.