Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep slaughtered in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, by means of different diagnosis techniques. Serum samples and tissues from 100 slaughtered sheep were used. To detect antibodies, the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was used, and tissues from seropositive animals (cut-off ≥1:64) were submitted to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). To assess the concordance between the direct techniques, the kappa test was used. In the IFAT, it was observed that 14% (14/100) of the ovine samples were serum-positive. In the PCR, 21.43% (3/14) of the animals were positive and in IHC, it was observed that 7.14% (1/14) were positively stained for T. gondii in cerebral tissue. Histopathologically, the predominant finding was the presence of mononuclear cell infiltrate in the heart and a perivascular cuff in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The concordance between the direct diagnosis techniques was moderate (k=0.44). Thus, it is important to use different direct techniques in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in naturally infected sheep.
Highlights
Economic losses caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep are difficult to evaluate because this disease occurs sporadically (DUBEY, 2009)
Among the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT)-positive sheep, three males were Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)‐positive for T. gondii
By means of IHC, T. gondii was found in central nervous system from asymptomatic sheep confirming the findings previously described by Esteban-Redondo et al (1999), Motta et al (2008) and Benavides et al (2011)
Summary
Economic losses caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep are difficult to evaluate because this disease occurs sporadically (DUBEY, 2009). In histological sections stained with HE, it is difficult to identify cysts of T. gondii because the parasite can be confused with nuclei or nuclear fragments that stain (TSUNEMATSU et al, 1964; BARBOSA, 1988). This technique is generally used to look for histological lesions consistent with infection by this parasite, with or without associated use of immunohistochemistry (UGGLA et al, 1987)
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Schedule a callMore From: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
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