Seroprevalence of feline toxoplasmosis in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative protozoan Toxoplasmosis, zoonosis that has felids as definitive hosts and affects one third of the world population. In Brazil, about 40% to 80% of the population has had contact with the parasite, but the disease manifests itself in a few. Pregnant women with acute disease can transmit via placenta, causing nerve disorders and even death. In Teresina, Piaui state capital, human cases are reported, but there are no reports of the disease in the cat population. Due to the importance of domestic felines in disease transmission, we propose to study the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in cats in the city of Teresina. Therefore, we analyzed 109 blood samples from cats destined for euthanasia in the Zoonosis Control Center of the municipality, collected between January and April 2015. The samples were tested by an indirect enzyme immunoassay solid phase through the kit commercial ImmunoComb® II Toxo IgG for the determination of anti-T. Gondii antibodies later. All animals tested were soro-negative, suggesting that they probably had good food handling and are not exposed to risk factors for infection. However, other factors may have affected the results, such as the small number of animals studied, the young age and the origin of neighborhoods near the Zoonosis Centre, facilitating access to veterinary public health service.