Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

Maria do Socorro Costa de Oliveira Braga,Márcia Mariza Gomes Jusi,Carla Roberta Freschi,Márcia Cristina Alves Teixeira,Marcos Rogério André,Rosangela Zacarias Machado

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612012000200007

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The presence of IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies was tested using the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). IgG anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 101 (50.5%) and 54 (27%) sampled cats, respectively. The titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies ranged from 40 (cut-off) to 2560. On the other hand, the titers of anti-N. caninum antibodies ranged from 25 (cut-off) to 400. Twenty-seven cats (13.5%) were shown to be seropositive for both parasites. Seventy-four cats (34%) were seropositive only for T. gondii. Twenty-two cats (11%) were seropositive only for N. caninum. The present study showed that cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, are exposed to T. gondii and N. caninum.

Highlights

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoan disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (TENTER et al, 2000)
The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
IgG antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected in 101 (50.5%) and 54 (27%) sampled cats, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic protozoan disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (TENTER et al, 2000). This disease is acquired principally by eating food or drinking water contaminated with oocysts or by ingestion of tissue containing T. gondii cysts. Economic importance in livestock, N. caninum is recognized as an important cause of abortion in cattle (DUBEY; LINDSAY, 1996). Most likely because cats may only play a minor role in the epidemiology of N. caninum infection, there are only a few reports on naturally acquired seropositivity to N. caninum among cats (DUBEY et al, 2002; FERROGLIO et al, 2005; BRESCIANI et al, 2007; HORNOK et al, 2008). The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in cats with outdoor access in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

Sample collection

Results

Discussion