Risk factors and anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibody occurrence in dogs in João Pessoa, Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 242 - 247
• Main Authors: Brasil, Arthur Willian de Lima, Parentoni, Roberta Nunes, Silva, José Givanildo da, Santos, Carolina de Sousa Américo Batista, Mota, Rinaldo Aparecido, Azevedo, Sérgio Santos de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.04.2018; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Brazil - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - blood; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; domiciled dogs; Female; Male; Neospora - immunology; neosporosis; Northeastern Brazil; PARASITOLOGY; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - blood; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; VETERINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; cães domiciliados; Northeastern Brazil; neosporose; Toxoplasmosis; neosporosis; Toxoplasmose; Nordeste do Brasil; domiciled dogs
• ISSN: 0103-846X; 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612018006

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of infections due to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum and corresponding risk factors among dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 384 dogs that were attended at 34 veterinary clinics between April 2015 and May 2016. These two agents were diagnosed through the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT). Among the 384 animals evaluated, 37 (9.6%) were positive for T. gondii, with titers ranging from 16 to 512. Six dogs (1.6%) were positive for N. caninum, with titers of 50 to 200. Access to the streets (OR = 4.60; 95% CI = 1.74-12.20) and environments close to forested areas (OR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.32-5.93) were found to be risk factors for T. gondii infection. The dogs attended at veterinary clinics in João Pessoa are exposed to infections caused by T. gondii and N. caninum. Dog owners should avoid having access to the street or contact with forest environments.