Characterisation of Isospora lusitanensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus (Passeriformes: Turdidae) in mainland Portugal.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from a specimen of the Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus held for rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild in a centre for research and recovery of wild animals in Quinta de Marim, Olhão, Portugal. Isospora lusitanensis n. sp. has subspherical to ovoidal oöcysts, measuring on average 26.4 × 23.4 µm, with smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.1 µm thick. Micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, measuring on average 16.0 × 10.9 µm. Stieda body is knob-like and sub-Stieda body is prominent and rounded. Sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered spherules. Sporozoites are vermiform, with one refractile body and a nucleus. The morphological and morphometric data for the new species were compared with those for species parasitising birds of the Muscicapidae, Turdidae, Timaliidae, Troglodytidae and Cinclidae, which are considered phylogenetically close. The original histograms of Isospora turdi Schwalbach, 1959 were redrawn for comparison with I. lusitanensis n. sp. and a linear regression of width against length of the oöcysts is presented for characterisation. This is the first isosporoid coccidian described from T. merula in mainland Portugal.

Characterization and Distribution of Isospora sabiai N. SP. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Thrushes Turdus spp. (Passeriformes: Turdidae) from Brazil.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Isospora) is described parasitizing white-necked thrushes Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818; rufous-bellied thrushes Turdus rufiventris Vieillot, 1818; pale-breasted thrushes Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818; and yellow-legged thrushes Turdus flavipes Vieillot, 1818 from 3 different localities in Brazil. Isospora sabiai n. sp. has oocysts that are subspherical to ellipsoidal, 20.9 × 18.6 µm, with smooth, delicate, bilayered wall, ∼1.1 µm thick. Micropyle inconspicuous or imperceptible. Oocyst residuum absent, but small polar granules rounded or comma-shaped are present. Sporocysts are elongate ellipsoidal to reniform, 16.5 × 9.2 µm. The Stieda body is knob-like. Sub-Stieda body rounded to conical, sometimes homogeneous with the Stieda body. Sporocyst residuum is present, usually as a cluster of numerous granules. Sporozoites are vermiform with 2 refractile bodies. The oocysts and sporocysts of I. sabiai n. sp. are uniform in the proportionality of width on length, but exhibited different patterns of size associated with each host species; therefore, an ecological discussion is introduced aimed at associating these morphometrical patterns of the oocysts with the habits of the different species of thrushes. This is the seventh isosporoid coccidian reported from New World turdids.

Isospora massardi sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the white-necked thrush Turdus albicollis (Passeriformes: Turdidae) from Brazil.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are reported from the white-necked thrush Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818, a very common species in South America. Isospora massardi sp. nov. oocysts are subspherical, 18.6 × 17.7 µm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~0.9 µm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum are absent, but two polar granules are frequently present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 14.8 × 9.3 µm. Stieda body is knob-like to rounded and substieda body is rounded. Sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered spherules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with posterior and anterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. This is the sixth description of an isosporoid coccidium infecting a New World turdid bird.

Prevalence of parasites in soil and dog feces according to diagnostic tests.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of parasites in soil and dog feces according to diagnostic tests. We studied soil from 25 public squares in Seropédica, Brazil. Five samples of soil were collected from each square. Eighty-one fresh fecal samples from dogs were analyzed. The technique described by Dunsmore et al. and an adaptation of the Rugai et al. method were used to recover parasites in soil, and the Willis, Hoffman and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques were used to detect parasites in feces. The chi(2) and Fischer's exact tests were used to analyze the statistical significance of the results. Seven squares were found to be contaminated, and the most prevalent parasites were Ancylostoma spp. (13.6%) and Toxocara spp. (4.0%). The Dunsmore et al. technique and the adaptation of the Rugai et al. method did not differ in the detection of Toxocara spp. (p=0.21), Trichuris spp. (p=0.25), Ascaris spp. (p=0.49) and Strongyloides spp. (p=0.49) in soil. However, the two methods differed in the detection of Ancylostoma spp. eggs (p=0.029) and larvae (p=0.001). According to granulometric analysis, the soil samples consisted mainly of sand (from 96.6% to 82.8%). Parasites were detected in 75 fecal samples, the most frequent being Ancylostoma spp. (80.1%), Toxocara spp. (11.1%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (7.4%). There was no difference between the Willis and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques in the detection of Ancylostoma spp., and both techniques were better than the Hoffman technique for detecting this parasite in feces. The Hoffman and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques were different (p=0.03) in Toxocara spp. detection. No difference was observed among these three for Cryptosporidium spp. detection. The prevalences of zoonotic parasites in both dog feces and soil have implications for the spread of human disease in these areas.

[Prevalence of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered cattle at stockyards in the State of Bahia, Brazil]. / Prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos abatidos em matadouros do estado da Bahia, Brasil.

Serum samples of 600 slaughtered cattle from Ilhéus and Itabuna Municipal slaughterhouse and Jequié Federal slaughterhouse, all of them located in the State of Bahia were screened using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test against Toxoplasma gondii. Prevalence was 11.83% (71), and positive samples were distributed as 19.3% (37) from Ilhéus, 9.8% (21) from Itabuna and 6.8% (13) from Jequié slaughterhouses respectively. From positive cattle, 91.5% (65) had titles 1:64, and 8.5% (6) had title 1:256. The majority of serum positive samples against T. gondii were related to animals from dairy farms which were slaughtered at municipality stockyards under municipal inspection in comparison with those slaughtered at Federal inspection which were related to beef cattle that were raised in farms extensively.

Eimeria divinolimai sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the rufous casiornis Casiornis rufus Vieillot, 1816 (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in Brazil.

Eimeria divinolimai sp. n. from the rufous casiornis, Casiornis rufus (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) was described in Brazil. Oocysts are subspherical 17.84 +/- 1.52 by 15.90 +/- 0.99microm (15.61-20.00 x 14.15-17.80). Shape-index (length/ width) of 1.12 +/- 0.05 (1.01-1.20). Wall smooth and bilayered, being yellowish outer and darker inner, 2.13 +/- 0.16 microm (2.00-2.38) thick. Micropyle and residuum are absent, but one subspherical polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoid ranging from 14.98 +/- 0.85 by 7.50 +/- 0.44 microm (13.81-1619 x 6.76-8.09), with smooth, thin and single-layered wall. Stieda body prominent, without substiedal body and with residuum granulated. Sporozoites with refractile body at one end.

First report of Tyzzeria parvula (Kotlán, 1933) Klimes, 1963 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), in swan goose Anser cygnoides L., 1758, in Brazil.

This is the first description of Tyzzeria parvula from the swan goose (Anser cygnoides) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected from 15 swan geese, but only four of them shed oocysts in feces. After sporulation, the oocysts were spherical to sub-spherical, and measured 12.4 +/- 1.0 (11-15) x 10.4 +/- 0.8 mum (8-12). They presented a shape index of 1.2 (1.0-1.4), with a bi-layered wall that was 0.7 +/- 0.1 mum (0.6-0.8) thick. The outer side was smooth and colorless, while the inner side was pale greenish. Micropyles and polar granules were absent. The residuum sometimes formed a mass of spherules and granules and, at other times, was dispersed. Sporozoites had one rounded end and the other end was fine and slightly curved.

[Evaluation of different diagnostic techniques for oocysts of Cryptosporidium baileyi in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) fecal samples]. / Avaliação das técnicas de rotina no diagnóstico de oocistos de Cryptosporidium baileyi em amostras de fezes de frangos de corte (Gallus gallus domesticus).

The objective of this work is to evaluate different diagnostic techniques for Cryptosporidium baileyi oocysts in broiler chickens fecal samples infected naturally. So 90 samples were collected and conditioned in bottles with 10% formaline and submitted to Sheater s technique in bright field. Besides it, duplicate smears of the same samples were stained by safranin-methylene blue and modified Ziehl-Neelsen. Among the staining techniques, modified Ziehl-Neelsen got better result in the detention of C. baileyi oocysts in comparison to safranin-methylene blue. In spite of no significant differences among these techniques in the diagnosis of C. baileyi oocysts of fecal samples, bright field presented better results.

Contribution on the study of Isospora hemidactyli Carini, 1936 and a report of an adeleid pseudoparasite of the house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia, from the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, Brazil.

A description of the coccidium Isospora hemidactyli from the house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia, a very common at dwellings in Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, was made in this study. Histograms and linear regression were made for this species and determined the homogeneity of these oocysts despite of large range. Besides it, polysporocystid oocysts also were recovered from feces of the H. mabouia house gecko and they were similar to those described previously as the genus Adelina. This species should be parasitizing an invertebrate ingested by house gecko, and for that reason, is a pseudoparasite. Oocysts of I. hemidactyli were subspherical to ellipsoidal, 24.4 x 22.3 microm, with single-layered wall and one polar granule. Sporocysts were subspherical to ellipsoidal, 11.8 x 9.8 microm with Stieda and substieda bodies, residuum and sporozoites with refractile body. Oocysts of the pseudoparasite Adelina sp. were ellipsoidal, 36.3 x 30.9 microm, with bi-layered wall and without micropyle, residuum and polar granule. Eight to 15 sporocysts were presents and were subspherical to broadly ellipsoidal, 12.4 x 11.2 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies were absent. Sporozoites present refractile bodies at both ends.

Aflatoxin effect on the oocysts morphometry and contribution on the morphology of Eimeria bateri Bhatia, Pandey and Pande, 1965 of the Japanese quail Coturnix japonica in Brazil.

The purpose of this study was to characterize Eimeria bateri oocysts and to evaluate the aflatoxin effect in the morphometry of sporulated oocysts in Japanese quails infected naturally. Of a total of 50 quails naturally infected by E. bateri were randomly divided into two groups with 25 birds each. In one of them, quails were orally administered with aflatoxin in dose of 0.04 mg/kg body weight previously. Both experimental groups shed E. bateri oocysts. These oocysts were subspherical to ellipsoidal, 25.1 x 18.9 microm, with bi-layered wall. Micropyle and residuum were absent, but one or more polar granules were present. Sporocysts elongate ovoid, 12.5 x 7.4 microm. Stieda and substieda bodies were present. Sporocyst residuum was dispersed and sporozoites presented a nucleus and a refractile body. Histograms confirmed the presence of a single species, E. bateri. Linear regression proved that E. bateri oocysts are polymorphic, due, basically, to shape of these oocysts. The comparative morphometry between two experimental groups demonstrated that the aflatoxin influenced significantly in the E. bateri oocysts.

Sarcocystis lindsayi-like (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystinae) of the opossum (Didelphis aurita) from Southeastern Brazil.

Sporocysts of Sarcocystis were obtained from intestinal scrapings of three out of five opossums (Didelphis aurita) trapped in the southeastern region, of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fifteen caged budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) received, orally, twenty-six sporocysts in 500 mL PBS, but only five belonging to one of the groups developed clinical signs, that consisted of anorexia, lethargy, ruffled feathers and dyspnoea, and parasitism in tissues. Two of the five budgerigars died on the 25th and 29th days after infection (DAI). The other three budgerigars were posted on the 30th DAI. In all the five infected birds were observed meronts in the capillaries of the lungs and cysts in muscles, mainly in the tongue and legs.

Eimeria spp. from Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica): new characteristic features and diagnostic tools / Eimeria spp. de codornas japonesas (Coturnix japonica): novas características e ferramentas de diagnóstico

The Japanese quail Coturnix japonica originated from North Africa, Europe and Asia, is used worldwide as an experimental animal and model for aviculture. The current paper characterizes Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai and Eimeria uzura recovered from C. japonica. Based on the fact that quails have a global distribution, as are their coccidia, the findings of this study should provide the means for diagnosis of those Eimeria spp. in other regions and continents. Eimeria bateri showed the greatest intensity of infection and shed oocysts from the fourth day after infection; in contrast, E. tsunodai and E. uzura shed oocysts from the fifth day after infection. The three species shared a high degree of similarity and were all polymorphic. Yet, the application of line regressions, histograms and ANOVA provided means for the identification of these species. Finally, the algorithm was very efficient since verified that resultant values were not superimposed.

A codorna japonesa Coturnix japonica originária do norte da África, Europa e Ásia, é utilizada mundialmente como um animal experimental e modelo para avicultura. O presente trabalho caracteriza Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai e Eimeria uzura recuperadas de C. japonica. Baseado no fato de que as codornas têm uma distribuição global, como são os seus coccídios, os resultados deste estudo devem propiciar o diagnóstico destas Eimeria spp. em outras regiões e continentes. Eimeria bateri demonstrou a maior intensidade de infecção e eliminaram oocistos a partir do quarto dia após infecção, em contraste E. tsunodai e E. uzura eliminaram oocistos a partir do quinto dia após infecção. As três espécies foram morfometricamente semelhantes e polimórficas. No entanto, a aplicação da regressão linear, histogramas e ANOVA proveram meios para a identificação destas espécies. Finalmente, o algoritmo foi totalmente eficiente uma vez que valores resultantes não foram sobrepostos.

[Relationship between companion animals and intestinal parasites in children at municipality of Seropédica, RJ]. / Relação entre animais de companhia e parasitoses intestinais em crianças, Município de Seropédica, RJ.

Several parasitic zoonoses are associated to the human and companion animals, mainly dogs and cats. The present work aimed to analyze the relationship of parasites in children at the Center of Integral Attention to the Child Paulo Dacorso Filho and their companion animals where to verify the relationship of positive children for some parasites, which got in contact with infected animals. In a total of 64 fecal samples, they were consisted by 46 childrens fecal samples and 21 of their companion animals, being 18 from dogs and 3 from cats. Those were analyzed by using the techniques of centrifugal-flotation in brilliant field and staining by modified Ziehl-Neelsen to determine Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Of the childrens samples, 91% were positive for the genus Cryptosporidium, of those 13 samples; they were also in association to Giardia intestinallis, two to Ascaris lumbricoides, two to Trichuris trichiura and one to Endolimax nana only. Of the dogs samples, 94.44% were positive where Cryptosporidium spp. was observed in 94.44% of them, Ancylostoma spp. In 50%, Cystoisospora canis in 5.55% and Toxocara canis in 11.11%. The parasite that was common among children and animals belongs to genus Cryptoporidium. However, most of the positive children for Cryptosporidium spp., did not get in contact with animals.

[Evaluation of small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes of dogs (Canis familiaris) experimentally infected by Sarcocystis cruzi (Hasselman, 1923) Wenyon, 1926 (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae)]. / Avaliação do intestino delgado e linfonodos mesentéricos de cães (Canis familiaris) infectados experimentalmente com Sarcocystis cruzi (Hasselman, 1923) Wenyon, 1926 (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae).

Species of the genus Sarcocystis are considered as important parasites of domestic animals. Dogs are considered as definitive host for a variety species of Sarcocystis, when they fed on intermediated host tissues cysts shed sporocysts in their feces. Grinded bovine cardiac muscles, positive for Sarcocystis cruzi was given to two puppies free of coccidia. Both animals shed sporocysts in their feces at 12 days after infection (DAI). These sporocysts measured 17.44 +/- 0.82 11.60 +/- 0.66 mum with shape index of 1.50 +/- 0.05. At 23 DAI, these animals were posted and samples of the small intestine, such as: duodenum, jejune, ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected. In the analysis of small intestine, sporocysts were observed under de mucosa and they were characterized by sporulated sporocysts with sporozoites. Lesions were consisted of discrete edema and plasmocytic cells infiltrations which they were associated to a minimal inflammatory reaction in the presence of parasitic stages. On the other hand, sporocysts were observed at the cortical region near of lymphatic vessels adjacent to mesenteric lymph nodes capsule. It indicated the involvement of the lymphatic vessels in the sporocysts dispersion in the dog mesenteric lymph nodes.

Tyzzeria parvula (Kotlan, 1933) Klimes, 1963 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the greylag goose (Anser anser Linnaeus, 1758) in southeastern Brazil.

Tyzzeria parvula from the greylag goose (Anser anser) is described in Southeastern Brazil. Oocysts are spherical to subspherical ranging from 12.4-180 to 10.7-15.9 microm (15.4 X 13.4 microm), shape index 1.15, with a double layered wall 0.4 to 0.7 microm thick (n=20), outer smooth and colorless, inner pale greenish. Micropyle is absent, but oocyst residuum is present containing numerous granules and spherules. Surrounded by residuum there are eight sporozoites having one end round and other fine and slightly curved.

Isospora vanriperorum Levine, 1982 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the green-winged saltator, Saltator similis (Passeriformes: Cardinalinae) in southeastern Brazil.

Isospora vanriperorum from the green-winged saltator (Saltator similis) is described in Southeastern Brazil. Oocysts are spherical to subspherical, 19.4-26 by 18.3-26 micro (23.1 by 22.4 micro), shape index 1.04 with a single layered wall, fine, smooth and yellowish. Micropyle and residuum are absents, but one elliptical polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoid, 14.5-20.2 by 8.1-12.5 micro (16.3 by 10.8 micro), shape index 1.53 with prominent Stieda body, barely discernible substieda body and residuum centered and granulated.

Hypnozoites of Cystoisospora Frankel, 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae) in Mongolian gerbil lymph nodes and their transmission to cats free of coccidia.

Nine Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were fed with 5.6 x 10(5) Cystoisospora sporulated oocysts orally. After 28 days post inoculation (DPI) four animals were euthanized, and their mesenteric lymph nodes were removed and they were submitted to peptic digestion technique and samples of them were submitted to transmission electron microscopy for hypnozoites identification. From lymph nodes digestion 4 x 10(2) hypnozoites/mL were obtained. Morphologically they were banana or stick form in shape, and measured 18.17 (15.09-20.02) in length by 6.21 (5.48-7.06) microm in width. In the same experiment, at 6 DAI, five gerbils were posted and liver, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were removed from each animal and were homogenized before given to three cats free of coccidia. All visceras used individually in each cat were capable to induce infection of species, C. felis and C. rivolta.

Eimeria auritanensis n. sp. and E. gambai Carini, 1938 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the opossum Didelphis aurita Wied-Newied, 1826 (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) from southeastern Brazil.

Two eimerid species are described from the opossum Didelphis aurita from southeastern Brazil. Eimeria auritanensis n. sp. sporulated oocysts spherical to subspherical (31.55 +/- 1.56 by 29.55 +/- 1.40 microm), shape index 1.07; oocyst wall double layered 2.10 +/- 0.27 microm thick, outer yellowish and strongly ornamented having a prominently mammillated surphace; inner layer smooth and brownish. There is no micropyle or oocyst residuum, but one or two polar granules are present. Sporocysts ovoid (13.20 +/- 1.64 by 10.41 +/- 1.10microm) with a faint Stieda's body and residuum composed of granules and spherules. Eimeria gambai Carini, 1938 sporulated oocysts ovoid to subspherical (26.54 +/- 1.7 by 24.82 +/- 1.85 microm), shape index 1.07; oocyst wall double layered 2.10 +/- 0.27 microm thick, outer colorless to pale yellow entirely pitted, while inner layer smooth dark yellow to pale brow. Micropyle and residual bodies absent, polar granules present. Sporocysts ovoid 12.49 +/- 1.75 by 9.32 +/- 1.01 microm. Stieda body present and round. Sporocysts residuum composed of many granules and spherules.

Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Neotropical non-human primates / Infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em primatas neotropicais não-humanos

Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1909) is an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite of warm animals, including human and non-human primates. Domestic and wild felids are considered definitive hosts. Several authors have already identified lesions in New World primates caused by T. gondii. Nevertheless, little is known about serological studies on those animals. With this reason, New World non-human primates of the genera Cebus and Callithrix that were apprehended by governmental authorities and sent to the Wildlife Screening Center (Cetas)/IBAMA, at the municipality of Seropédica, state of Rio Janeiro, were bled and sera were submitted to the indirect hemagglutination test for detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies. From 21 sera of Cebus primates, 76.19% (16/21) had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Titles varied from 16 to 2048. In samples from 21 Callithrix, only 4.5% (1/22) had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Only one animal had a title of 32. During all the time those animals were clinical evaluated until sample was collected; none of them had any clinical sign or sequel related to infection by T. gondii. The fact that the origin of these primates is unknown and that there is no information about their feeding habits before captivity makes it difficult to determine the source of T. gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1909) é um protozoário parasita intracelular obrigatório de animais homeotérmicos, incluindo primatas humanos e não humanos, e que tem felídeos domésticos e silvestres como hospedeiros definitivos. Inúmeros trabalhos já identificaram lesões causadas por T. gondii em primatas neotropicais, entretanto, poucos estudos abordando a resposta sorológica destes animais ao parasito foram feitos. Com este intuito, primatas neotropicais do gênero Cebus e Callithrix apreendidos por órgãos governamentais e enviados ao Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (Cetas)/IBAMA, no município de Seropédica/RJ, tiveram amostras de sangue coletadas e as alíquotas séricas submetidas ao teste de hemaglutinação indireta para detecção de anticorpos anti-T. gondii. Dos 21 animais do gênero Cebus avaliados, em 76,19% (16/21) das amostras foram identificados anticorpos hemaglutinantes anti-T. gondii. Os títulos hemaglutinantes variaram desde 16 até 2048. Por outro lado, dos 22 primatas do gênero Callithrix cujas amostras séricas foram testadas, apenas 4,5% (1/22) apresentaram anticorpos anti-T. gondii. Apenas o título de 32 foi identificado em um único animal. Durante a avaliação clínica e o tempo em que os animais permaneceram no CETAS, desde a chegada, em nenhum animal foram observados sinais clínicos ou sequelas condizentes com a infecção por T. gondii. O desconhecimento sobre a verdadeira procedência desses símios, bem como os aspectos sanitários relativos à alimentação deles dificulta a determinação da fonte de infecção por T. gondii.

[Toxoplasma gondii in brains of pigs commercialized at the Municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Toxoplasma gondii em encéfalos de suínos comercializados no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Brain samples of 12 pigs commercialized for food consumption at the Municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes in the State of Rio de Janeiro were examined for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii. Brain sample of each pig was grinded and submitted to peptic digestion. One ml of the homogenate of each sample was inoculated in three albino mice, and this procedure was repeated 24 hours later. Inoculated mice were observed during six weeks. Dead mice or those that presented clinical signs suggestive of the disease, were examined for the presence of tachyzoites in peritoneal exudates or tissue cysts in their brains. The percentage of positives brains was 50%, which is a confirmation that pigs could be considered as a potential source of infection of T. gondii for humans at this Municipality.