Risk factors of occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii among horses in the state of Alagoas, Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii among horses and its associated risk factors in Alagoas, Brazil. In total, 440 samples from 36 properties in 23 districts of the state of Alagoas were studied, covering the Leste, Agreste and Sertão mesoregions. Risk factors were evaluated through the application of an investigative questionnaire that focused on the productive, reproductive and sanitary management of herds. T. gondii infection were assayed using the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with a cutoff point of 64; 14.4% (95% CI: 11.0%-17.8%) of - horses were seropositive. A significant association was determined between anti-T. gondii antibody presence and the consumption and storage of hay (OR = 2.08 / 95% CI: 1.20-3.62). This is the first report of T. gondii infection among horses in the state of Alagoas, Brazil.

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in raw milk of sheep and goats of local breeds reared in Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in raw milk samples of goats and sheep of local breeds from the semi-arid region of the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Serum and milk samples were collected from 243 animals (186 goats and 57 sheep). The Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to search for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies with a cutoff of 64. Subsequently, the raw milk samples were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR to detect DNA of T. gondii. The IFAT results showed a 6.58% (16/243) positivity when all the samples were considered and a positivity of 15.78% (9/57) and 3.76% (7/186) for goats and sheep samples, respectively. The PCR assay detected T. gondii DNA in 2.06% (5/243) of all the samples tested. All the PCR positive samples were from goats. This result shows the importance of adopting measures of flock's sanitary management and avoiding the consumption of raw milk may constitute a potential risk to the health of milk consumers in this region.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered pigs in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

The object of this study was to investigate Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in pigs in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 305 slaughtered pigs in 11 municipalities, and their sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cutoff 1:64); 38 (12.5%) samples were positive. Attempts were made to detect T. gondii DNA in the heart tissue of seropositive pigs using the B 1 gene and PCR; 21 (55.2%) of the 38 hearts were positive. This is the first detection of T. gondii DNA in tissues of serologically positive swine in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection by Neospora caninum of dairy cattle in the state of Alagoas, Brazil / Soroprevalência e fatores de risco associados à infecção por Neospora caninum em bovinos leiteiros no estado de Alagoas

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from milk producing farms of the microregion of Batalha, state of Alagoas, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with the infection. Blood samples were collected from 1,004 cattle of 17 farms for the serological investigation regarding the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction Technique (IMRT). From the total amount of samples analyzed, 77/1,004 (7.67%) were positive and 927/1,004 (92.33%) were negative. The logistical regression identified that cattle from farms without consortium breeding have an infection risk 6.33 (p<0.001; C.I. 2.89-13.10) times higher than cattle from farms with that type of breeding. Cattle from farms where the aborted fetuses are not adequately buried have an infection risk 3.04 (p<0.001; C.I. 1.64-5.63) times higher than cattle from farms with adequate destination of these fetuses. Infection by N. caninum occurs in cattle of the investigated region. The factors identified in our study can be used as risk indicators, so that control measures could be implemented to avoid infection by N. caninum in the herds of this region.

Objetivou-se com este estudo investigar pos anti-N. caninum através do teste de Reação de Imunoflua prevalência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em bovi-orescência Indireta (RIFI). Do total das amostras analisadas, nos procedentes de propriedades leiteiras da microrregião 77/1004 (7,67%) foram positivas e 927/1004 (92,33%) fo-Batalha, Estado de Alagoas, Brasil, além de identificar os fato-ram negativas. A regressão logística identificou que animais res de risco associados à infecção. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 1004 bovinos procedentes de 17 propriedades para investigação sorológica quanto à presença de anticorpos anti-N. caninum através do teste de Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Do total das amostras analisadas, 77/1004 (7,67%) foram positivas e 927/1004 (92,33%) foram negativas. A regressão logística identificou que animais de propriedades sem criação consorciada têm risco 6,33 (p<0,001; I.C. 2,89-13,10) vezes maior de infecção do que animais de propriedades onde ocorre esse tipo de criação. Animais de propriedades onde os fetos abortados não são adequadamente enterrados têm risco 3,04 (p<0,001; I.C. 1,64- 5,63) vezes maior de infecção do que animais de propriedades onde é feito o destino adequado dos mesmos. A infecção por N. caninum ocorre em bovinos na região estudada. Os fatores identificados neste estudo podem servir como indicadores de risco para que sejam implantadas medidas de controle para evitar a infecção por N. caninum nos rebanhos dessa região.

Neospora caninum em bovinos em matadouros de Pernambuco e Alagoas / Neospora caninum in cattle slaughter in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, Brazil

A neosporose bovina é uma doença infecciosa causada pelo Neospora caninum, parasito intracelular obrigatório, sendo considerada uma das principais causas de aborto na espécie bovina em diversos países. Objetivou-se estudar a ocorrência de N. caninum em vacas e fetos nos Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas, Brasil. Foram coletadas 306 amostras de soro sanguíneo de vacas abatidas causada pelo Neospora caninum, parasito intracelular obri-e 30 fetos nos Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas. Para o gatório, sendo considerada uma das principais causas de diagnóstico sorológico utilizou-se a técnica de Reação de aborto na espécie bovina em diversos países. Objetivou-se Imunoflurescência Indireta (RIFI) com ponto de corte estudar a ocorrência de N. caninum em vacas e fetos nos 1:200 para os soros das vacas e para os soros fetais utilizou Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas, Brasil. Foram coletadas 306 amostras de soro sanguíneo de vacas abatidas e 30 fetos nos Estados de Pernambuco e Alagoas. Para o diagnóstico sorológico utilizou-se a técnica de Reação de Imunoflurescência Indireta (RIFI) com ponto de corte 1:200 para os soros das vacas e para os soros fetais utilizou ponto de corte 1:25. Para a pesquisa do DNA parasitário utilizaram-se tecidos fetais submetidos à técnica da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR). Na sorologia, observou-se 39/306 (12,6%) das vacas positivas e 5/30 (16,7%) dos fetos positivos. Na detecção do parasito 8/30 (26,6%) dos fetos foram positivos na PCR. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo quanto à presença do parasito nos fetos são inéditos para a região estudada e permitem concluir que este agente deve ser incluído no estudo das causas de aborto na espécie bovina nesta região do Brasil.

Bovine neosporosis is an infectious disease caused by Neospora caninum, obligate intracellular parasite, and is considered a major cause of abortion in cattle in various countries. The objective was to study the occurrence of N. caninum in cows and fetuses in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, Brazil. We collected 306 blood serum samples from slaughtered cows and 30 fetuses in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. For serological diagnosis, we used the technique of immunofluorescence reaction (RIFI) with a cutoff 1:200 for sera of cows and fetal sera used cutoff 1:25 parasitic DNA research, we used tissue fetal submitted to the technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Serological assays, we observed 39/306(12.6%) of the positive cows and 5/30 (16.7%) of positive fetuses. To detect the parasite 8/30 (26.6%) of fetuses were PCR positive. The results of this study as the presence of parasites in fetuses are unprecedented for this region and allow us to conclude that this agent should be included in the study of causes of bovine abortion in this region of Brazil.