Seropositivity of anti-'Toxoplasma gondii' antibodies in owners and their dogs living on Island and mainland seashore areas of Southern Brazil

• Published in: Tropical medicine and infectious disease Vol. 7; no. 10; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Freitas, Aaronson Ramathan, Delai, Ruana Renostro, Kmetiuk, Louise Bach, da Silva, Evelyn Cristine, Martini, Rafaella, Brandão, Ana Pérola Drulla, Giuffrida, Rogério, de Barros-Filho, Ivan Roque, Costa da Silva, Rodrigo, Langoni, Hélio, Figueiredo, Fabiano Borges, Pimpão, Cláudia Turra, Dos Santos, Andrea Pires, Santarém, Vamilton Alvares, Biondo, Alexander Welker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI 20.09.2022; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Antibodies; Brazil; Diagnosis; Dogs; Drinking water; Health aspects; HIV infections; National parks; One Health; Parks & recreation areas; Pets; pets and human health; Prevention; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Serology; serosurvey; Tourism; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis; Transmission; Zoonoses; zoonosis; Brazil; United States > US
• ISSN: 2414-6366; 2414-6366
• DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7100252

Although toxoplasmosis has been considered among the most neglected zoonoses worldwide, no study has focused on the frequency and associated risk factors of owners and their dogs living on an island and mainland seashore areas. Accordingly, anti-'Toxoplasma gondii' IgG antibodies were screened by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in owners and dogs from three oceanic islands and two nearby mainland harbor areas, with associated risk factors for toxoplasmosis assessed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, anti-T. gondii seropositivity was observed in 59/328 (18.0%) owners and 66/283 (23.3%) dogs, with no statistical difference between owners (p = 0.360) and dogs (p = 0.655) from islands and mainland areas. Consumption of local water springs (p = 0.016; OR = 2.11) was an associated risk factor for 'T. gondii' seropositivity, and owners with the habit of spring water intake were twice more likely seropositive (p = 0.014; OR = 2.14). Presence of anti-'T. gondii' antibodies in dogs was associated with seropositive owners (p = 0.008; OR = 2.81), household consumption of beef meat (p = 0.042; OR = 1.7) and chicken (p = 0.026; OR = 2.9). Despite being lower than the worldwide prevalence, toxoplasmosis seropositivity in owners and their dogs in southern Brazil was influenced by the positive owner, water source, and meat consumption, and not by inhabiting islands or seashore mainland areas, presence of dogs, cats, or both. In addition, drinking water quality should always be considered a critical risk factor for toxoplasmosis on islands.