Prevalence and risk factors associated with anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep from Bahia state, Brazil

Luciana Afonso Guimarães,Rodrigo Alves Bezerra,George Rêgo Albuquerque,Daniele De Santana Rocha

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612013000200041

Luciana Afonso Guimarães, Rodrigo Alves Bezerra + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612013000200041

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Abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and identify risk factors associated with this infection in sheep from the southern region of Bahia state. Between February and December 2010, 795 sheep from 31 farms located in nine municipalities were tested. We found seroprevalence of 30.2% (240/795), with titers of 64 (38.3%), 256 (34.2%), 1,024 (18.3%), and 4,096 (9.2%) by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). Seropositive sheep were detected in all farms sampled. Univariate statistical analysis detected association between T. gondii seropositivity and the variables age, use of fresh food mainly, water source, stocking rate, production system, presence and number of cats on the farm, and transit of cats (p < 0.05). In the logistic regression model, transit of cats (p = 0.001), production system (p = 0.007), and age (p = 0.027) were identified as risk factors associated with T. gondii infection.

Highlights

Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic zoonosis of cosmopolitan distribution caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii
Considering the importance of toxoplasmosis and the lack of epidemiological information in the state of Bahia, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep flocks from southern Bahia state and identify possible risk factors associated with the infection
Toxoplasma gondii prevalence found in this study is similar to that described by Ueno et al (2009), in Federal District (38.2%) and by Pinheiro et al (2009), in Pernambuco (32.9%); higher than that found by Soares et al (2009), in Rio Grande do Norte (20.7%) and Langoni et al (2011), in São Paulo (18.61%); and it lower than that found by Lopes et al (2010), in São Paulo (52%) - all Brazilian states

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic zoonosis of cosmopolitan distribution caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The sheep industry is an economic activity in operation in every continent with different climates. Antibodies to T. gondii have been found in sheep worldwide and seroprevalence rate ranges from 6.7% to 84.5% (KAMANI et al, 2010; KLUN et al, 2006). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in flocks of sheep in Brazil ranges from 7.0% to 54.6% (MOURA et al, 2007; OGAWA et al, 2003). The only study in Bahia state with sheep was carried out in the metropolitan region of Salvador and Recôncavo, with prevalence of 18.75% (GONDIM et al, 1999)

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