Serosurvey and associated risk factors of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in bovines from slaughterhouses of southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Parasites & vectors 2021-05, Vol.14 (1), p.250-250, Article 250
• Main Authors: Giudice, Paula Andreia Fabris, Lescano, Susana Angélica Zevallos, Gonzáles, William Henry Roldan, Giuffrida, Rogério, Bandeira, Fernanda Nobre, Kmetiuk, Louise Bach, Pires Dos Santos, Andrea, Biondo, Alexander Welker, Santarém, Vamilton Alvares
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Abattoirs - statistics & numerical data; Animals; Anti-antibodies; Antibodies; Antibodies, Helminth - blood; Antigens; Beef; Beef cattle; Body organs; Brazil - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - blood; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; ELISA; Environmental impact; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Enzymes; Epidemiology; Farms; Feedlots; Food contamination; Health aspects; Health risks; Ingestion; Larvae; Meat; Membrane filters; Multivariate analysis; Nematodes; Organs; Parasites; Pore size; Prevalence; Proteins; Questionnaires; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Roundworm infections; Sediment pollution; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serosurvey; Slaughtering and slaughter-houses; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Statistical methods; Statistics; Testing; Toxocara; Toxocara - classification; Toxocara - immunology; Toxocara - isolation & purification; Toxocariasis; Toxocariasis - blood; Toxocariasis - epidemiology; Toxocariasis - parasitology; Urban areas; Zoonoses; Zoonosis
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04755-w

Toxocariasis, caused by a nematode species of the genus Toxocara, has been described as one of the most prevalent zoonotic helminthiases worldwide. Human transmission may occur by ingesting Toxocara spp. larvae from raw or undercooked meat or organs; however, no comprehensive serosurvey study has been conducted to date investigating the role of cattle as paratenic hosts. The aim of the study reported here was to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies and associated risk factors in bovines from two slaughterhouses located in Presidente Prudente, southeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cattle farmers voluntarily responded to an epidemiologic questionnaire. Overall, 213 of the 553 (38.5%) bovine samples were assessed as seropositive for anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies by indirect ELISA. Multivariate analysis revealed that the source of beef cattle and the presence of dogs or cats at the farm were associated with seropositivity. The use of feedlot systems was associated with lower likelihood of seropositivity. These results indicate a high level of anti-Toxocara seropositivity in slaughterhouse cattle, with potentially contaminated meat posing an infection risk to humans. In addition, the presence of dogs and cats where the slaughtered beef cattle were raised was statistically associated with bovine seropositivity, probably due to the overlapping environment at the farm and the lack of pet deworming. The use of feedlot systems was a protective factor likely due to the absence of dog and cat contact, elevated feeding troughs that avoid contact with contaminated soil or grass, and younger age at slaughter of feedlot cattle. In summary, bovines may be used as environmental sentinels of Toxocara spp. contamination, and high seropositivity of slaughterhouse cattle may indicate a potential risk of human toxocariasis through the ingestion of raw or undercooked contaminated meat.