Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in ovine from São Paulo State, Brazil.

Serum samples from 597 sheep from São Paulo State, in the southeastern region of Brazil, were tested to determine the prevalence of antibodies directed against Toxoplasma gondii (> or = 1:64) and Neospora caninum (> or = 1:50) using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The animals were divided into three groups based on their age: < or = 1 year, 1-4 years, and > or = 4 years. Antibodies to T. gondii were observed in 34.7% of the samples with titers ranging from 64 to 16,384 and IgG antibodies directed against N. caninum were observed in 9.2%, with titers ranging from 50 to 3200. Only 3.5% of the sheep were positive for both agents. All farms had at least one positive animal for T. gondii, and 26 of the 30 farms had at least one positive animal for N. caninum. An association between seroprevalence and age was observed for T. gondii (P = 0.001), but not to N. caninum (P = 0.343). It was not possible to associate seroprevalence to T. gondii and the presence of domestic or feral cats, since in all farms there was at least one positive sheep. There was no association between seropositivity to N. caninum and the presence of domestic (P = 1.000) and feral dogs (P = 0.550).

[Serological and epidemiological features of canine American tegumentary Leishmaniasis from Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Aspectos sorológicos e epidemiológicos da leishmaniose tegumentar americana canina em Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

A sample of 261 dogs from 134 households located in a periurban area of Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was studied to evaluate serologic reactions and active infection of american tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). Eight dogs presented lesions suggestive of ATL, but this was isolated in only three. Using ELISA, 24.5% (64/261) of the dogs studied were positive (sensitivity = 66% and specificity = 76%), associated with isolation in 2 animals and 0.4% (1/261) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) with no association with isolation. In order to reduce the unspecific reactions to ELISA, a second criterion was used to obtain the cutoff (sensitivity = 33% and specificity = 93%), resulting in a reactivity of 6.9 % (18/261) associated to isolation in a single animal. As observed in this study, serologic results by IIF were not associated with active infection and ELISA showed high unspecific reactions, indicating that the serologic reactions alone are not recommended for ATL diagnosis. ATL scars were been observed in 7 persons in the region and active lesion, under treatment, was observed in one patient. The finding of active lesions, either in dogs or humans, confirmed the existence of active tegumentary leishmaniasis in Maricá, indicating the need for further studies to evaluate the importance of this infection in the municipality.