Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii present in wild mammals that were trap captured in forest fragments in the State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. A total of 368 individuals (246 rodents, 104 marsupials and 18 bats) were captured using live catch traps. Serum samples were tested using the modified agglutination test, with a cut-off point at 1:25 dilution. The total occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii was 10.6% (39/368), being 16.3% (17/104) in marsupials, 8.5% (21/246) in rodents, and 5.5% (1/18) in bats. Antibody titers varied between 25 and 50 for rodents, between 25 and 400 for marsupials, and were 25 for bats. This is the first report on antibodies to T. gondii in certain rodent species (Thaptomys nigrita, Hylaeamys laticeps, and Cerradomys subflavus), marsupial species (Monodelphis americana, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Gracilinanus agilis and Marmosops incanus), and bats of the genus Rhynchonycteris. The presence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild mammals demonstrates the possibility of these animals as sentinels of toxoplasmosis, especially on regions under high anthropogenic effect.
Highlights
Atlantic Forest is one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity and one of the most threatened areas on the planet, being considered a global conservation hotspot (Myers et al, 2000)
Devastation of this biome is a result of human occupation and disordered exploitation of urban natural resources (Pinto et al, 2006). These environmental changes may trigger the appearance of zoonoses and emerging and reemerging diseases, which may lead to changes in wild animal populations, and alter the rates of parasitic infections and infestations (Sangioni et al, 2005; Thompson, 2013)
The results show a greater occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in marsupials (16.5%; CI95%: 10.59 – 24.88) than in rodents (8.5%; CI95%: 5.67 – 12.71) and bats (5.5%; CI95%: 1.30 – 26.03), with a significant difference between marsupials and rodents (p = 0.0377)
Summary
Atlantic Forest is one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity and one of the most threatened areas on the planet, being considered a global conservation hotspot (Myers et al, 2000). Reduced to less than 8% of its original extension, Atlantic Forest stretches along the Brazilian coast, distributed across 17 States. Devastation of this biome is a result of human occupation and disordered exploitation of urban natural resources (Pinto et al, 2006). These environmental changes may trigger the appearance of zoonoses and emerging and reemerging diseases, which may lead to changes in wild animal populations, and alter the rates of parasitic infections and infestations (Sangioni et al, 2005; Thompson, 2013). The disease has an optional heteroxenic life cycle, with domestic and wild felids as the definitive hosts (Tenter et al, 2000)
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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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