Serosurvey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sport horses from Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Acta parasitologica Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 225 - 227
• Main Authors: Almeida, Jonatas C., Vidotto, Odilon, Ferreira, Edlainne P., Ribeiro, Luana P. S., Mongruel, Anna C. B., Vieira, Thállitha S. W. J., Freire, Roberta L., Mota, Rinaldo A., Vieira, Rafael F. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2017; De Gruyter; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan; Asymptomatic; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brazil - epidemiology; Confidence intervals; Cysts; Drinking water; Ecology; equines; Female; Gender; Health care; Horse Diseases - blood; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - parasitology; Horses; IFA; Male; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Parasitology; Protozoa; Public health; Research Note; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; seroprevalence; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - blood; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Water supply; Brazil; seroprevalence; Toxoplasmosis; IFA; equines
• ISSN: 1230-2821; 1896-1851
• DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0028

Although the infection by Toxoplasma gondii in horses is usually asymptomatic, it may be characterized by the presence of tissue cysts and maintenance of detectable antibody titers. The aim of this study was to detect anti- T.gondii antibodies and to determine risk factors associated in sport horses from Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil. A total of 138 apparently healthy sport horses of different age and gender were sampled. Anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 16/138 (11.6%; 95% CI: 6.77–18.14%) horses by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). A significant association was found between the water source and seropositivity to T. gondii (p<0.05). The present study highlights the importance of providing good quality water to the animals.