Toxoplasma gondii induced abortions in a goat herd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Gabriela Oliveira Pereira,Daniel Guimarães Ubiali,Caroline Argenta Pescador,Marilene De Farias Brito,Asheley Henrique Barbosa Pereira

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20200568

Gabriela Oliveira Pereira, Daniel Guimarães Ubiali + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20200568

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although, serological assays for detecting immune response against Toxoplasma gondii in goats and sheep are frequent in Brazil, studies showing lesions and confirmation of infectious causes of abortion in goats in the state of Rio de Janeiro have not been reported. This study aimed to describe an abortion outbreak caused by T. gondii in a goat herd in the state of Rio de Janeiro. At histological examination, necrotizing encephalitis and lymphoplasmacytic myositis were observed in goat fetuses submitted to necropsy. The diagnoses were confirmed by immunohistochemistry, which revealed positive marking structures compatible with T. gondii bradyzoites in the brain and skeletal muscle cysts. T. gondii should be included among the causes of abortion in goats in the Southeast region of Brazil.

Highlights

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular coccidian protozoan that naturally infects humans and domestic and wild animals (DUBEY et al, 2012)
T. gondii infection was associated with reproductive losses, and abortions in goat herds in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (PESCADOR et al, 2007a), Mato Grosso (CALDEIRA et al, 2011), and Alagoas (MESQUITA et al, 2019)
This study aimed to describe an abortion outbreak caused by T. gondii on a goat farm in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular coccidian protozoan that naturally infects humans and domestic and wild animals (DUBEY et al, 2012). T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded animals, including sheep and goats. In these species, the main clinical signs are fever, anorexia, dyspnea, embryonic resorption and mummification, abortion, and neurological signs (OIE, 2017). In countries such as South Africa (TAGWIREYI et al, 2019), Argentina (UNZAGA et al, 2014), China (QIAN et al, 2020), and the USA (DUBEY & JONES, 2008), T. gondii has been identified as one of the most important causes of reproductive diseases in sheep and goats. T. gondii infection was associated with reproductive losses, and abortions in goat herds in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (PESCADOR et al, 2007a), Mato Grosso (CALDEIRA et al, 2011), and Alagoas (MESQUITA et al, 2019)

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