Anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em carcarás (Caracara plancus) procedentes da região aeroportuária do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil / Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) from Recife Airport, Pernambuco, Brazil

Objetivou-se com este estudo pesquisar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em carcarás (Caracara plancus) capturados no Aeroporto Internacional do Recife/Guararapes Gilberto Freyre, Pernambuco, Brasil. Foram analisadas 115 amostras de soros sanguíneos pelo teste de aglutinação modificada (IgG, MAT≥25) utilizando taquizoítos inativados em formalina. Do total de amostras analisadas, 5,21% (6/115) foram positivas para presença de anticorpos anti-T. gondii, 16,67% com título 1:25 (1/06) e 83,33% (5/06) com título 1:50. A ocorrência de anticorpos em carcarás procedentes de região aeroportuária fomenta a preocupação em relação a aspectos ainda pouco elucidados, relacionados principalmente à inserção de aves silvestres na cadeia epidemiológica da toxoplasmose conectada à ação antrópica, tornando próxima a interação entre animais silvestres, domésticos e o homem. Dessa forma, é notória a necessidade de estudos relacionados à dinâmica de transmissão entre os diferentes genótipos existentes nessa tríade e sua relação com o meio ambiente, a fim de determinar a influência dessa espécie animal na cadeia epidemiológica da toxoplasmose.(AU)

The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in carcarás (Caracara plancus) captured in the Recife/Guararapes Gilberto Freyre International Airport, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. 115 samples of blood sera were tested by the Modified Agglutination Test technique (IgG, MAT > 25) using tachyzoites inactivated in formalin. Of the total of the analyzed samples, 5,21% (6/115) were positive for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii, 16,67% with a titer of 1:25 (1/06) and 83,33% (5/06) with a titration of 1:50. The occurrence of antibodies in caracaras coming from airport region generate concern about aspects still poorly understood, mainly related to the inclusion of wild birds in the epidemiological chain of toxoplasmosis connected to human action, making close interaction between wild animals, domestic and man. Thus, the need for studies related to the dynamics of transmission between the different existing genotypes in this triad is evident as is its relationship with the environment to determine the influence of this animal species in the epidemiological chain of toxoplasmosis.(AU)

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Brazilian wildlife revealed abundant new genotypes.

This study aimed to isolate and genotype T. gondii from Brazilian wildlife. For this purpose, 226 samples were submitted to mice bioassay and screened by PCR based on 18S rRNA sequences. A total of 15 T. gondii isolates were obtained, including samples from four armadillos (three Dasypus novemcinctus, one Euphractus sexcinctus), three collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla), three whited-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari), one spotted paca (Cuniculus paca), one oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), one hoary fox (Pseudalopex vetulus), one lineated woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) and one maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). DNA from the isolates, originated from mice bioassay, and from the tissues of the wild animal, designated as "primary samples", were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP), using 12 genetic markers (SAG1, SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L258, PK1, CS3 and Apico). A total of 17 genotypes were identified, with 13 identified for the first time and four already reported in published literature. Results herein obtained corroborate previous studies in Brazil, confirming high diversity and revealing unique genotypes in this region. Given most of genotypes here identified are different from previous studies in domestic animals, future studies on T. gondii from wildlife is of interest to understand population genetics and structure of this parasite.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild marsupials and rodents from the Atlantic forest of Pernambuco state, northeastern region, Brazil.

Felids are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in their feces. Cats acquire T. gondii infection in nature by ingesting tissues of small mammals and birds. Serum samples of 223 feral marsupials and 174 feral rodents captured in 7 segments of the Atlantic Forest of the State of Pernambuco, northeastern region of Brazil, and in urban areas of the municipality of Recife were examined for antibodies to T. gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies (MAT ≥ 25) were found in 6.7% (15 of 223) of the marsupials and 5.7% (10 of 174) of the rodents. No association was observed between seropositivity in marsupials or rodents and sex, age, or different areas of collection (P > 0.05). This is the first study on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in marsupials and rodents performed in the Atlantic Forest of the northeastern region of Brazil. The presence of antibodies to T. gondii are reported for the first time in long-furred woolly mouse opossum ( Micoureus demerarae ), murine mouse opossum ( Marmosa murina ), brown four-eyed opossum ( Metachirus nudicaudatus ), and gray short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ).

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from the Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, which has a varied biodiversity including alien species or sinantropic animals. The objective here was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil. Between July 2007 and May 2010, blood samples were collected from 764 animals (533 domestic and 231 wild animals). Sera were tested by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) or the modified agglutination test (MAT), or by both. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 80 (80.0%) of 100 chickens ( Gallus domesticus ), 3 (3.0%) of 100 cattle ( Bos taurus ), 59 (60.8%) of 97 sheep ( Ovis aries ), 9 (81.8%) of 11 goats ( Capra hircus ), 7 (43.7%) of 16 horses ( Equus caballus ), 70 (59.3%) of 118 cats ( Felis catus ), 36 (39.6%) of 91 dogs ( Canis familiaris ), 13 (38.2%) of 34 black rats ( Rattus rattus ), and 157 (79.7%) of 197 cattle egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ). Results indicate endemic infection by this zoonotic parasite among the animal and avian fauna in this archipelago from Brazil.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-living Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) from central Amazon, Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogen in aquatic mammals and its presence in these animals may indicate the water contamination of aquatic environment by oocysts. Serum samples from 95 free-living Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) from the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (RDSM), Tefé, Amazonas, Central Amazon, Brazil were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies (MAT ≥ 25) to T. gondii were found in 82 (86.3%) dolphins with titers of 1:25 in 24, 1:50 in 56, and 1:500 in 2. Results suggest a high level contamination of the aquatic environment of the home range of these animals.

Isolation and genetic characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii from a red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul), a jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), and a black-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) from Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii isolates are highly diverse in domestic animals from Brazil. However, little is known about the genetics of this parasite from wild mammals in the same region. Reveal genetic similarity or difference of T. gondii among different animal populations is necessary for us to understand transmission of this parasite. Here we reported isolation and genetic characterisation of three T. gondii isolates from wild animals in Brazil. The parasite was isolated by bioassay in mice from tissues of a young male red handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul), an adult male jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), and an adult female black-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita). The monkey and the jaguarundi had inhabited the Zoo of Parque Estadual Dois Irmãos, Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, for 1 year and 8 years, respectively. The wild black-eared opossum was captured in São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil, and euthanised for this study because it was seropositive for T. gondii (titre 1:100 by the modified agglutination test, MAT). Ten PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) markers, SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico, were used to genotype the isolates. T. gondii was isolated from the brain and heart homogenate of the monkey, the muscle homogenate of the jaguarundi, and the heart homogenate of the black-eared opossum. This was the first isolation of T. gondii from a neotropical felid from Brazil. The isolate from the monkey (TgRhHmBr1) was not virulent in mice, whereas the isolates from the jaguarundi (TgJagBr1) and the black-eared opossum (TgOpBr1) were virulent in mice. The genotype of the isolate from the monkey has been identified in isolates from a goat and ten chickens in the same region of Brazil, suggesting that it may be a common lineage circulating in this region. The genotypes of the isolates from the jaguarundi and the black-eared opossum have not been previously reported. Although there are already 88 genotypes identified from a variety of animal hosts in Brazil, new genotypes are continuously being identified from different animal species, indicating an extremely high diversity of T. gondii in the population.

New Toxoplasma gondii genotypes isolated from free-range chickens from the Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: unexpected findings.

Worldwide comparison of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) has indicated that T. gondii isolates from Brazil are phenotypically and genetically different from isolates from other countries; most strains from Brazil are pathogenic to mice, there is great genetic variability, most isolates are nonclonal, and Type II is absent or rare. The prevalence of T. gondii in 50 free-range chickens from the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil (this island is 350 km from the mainland) was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT); 42 (84%) chickens had titers of 1ratio5 in 2, 1ratio10 in 4, 1ratio20 in 3, 1ratio40 in 6, 1ratio80 in 6, 1ratio160 in 5, 1ratio320 in 3, and 1ratio640 or higher in 13 chickens. Hearts of 40 seropositive chickens were bioassayed individually in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 24 chickens with MAT titers of 1ratio5 or higher; the isolates were designated TgCKBr210-233. None of the isolates was pathogenic for mice. The restricted fragment length polymorphism using 10 markers revealed 6 genotypes, including the Type II, Type III, and 4 new chicken genotypes (#59-#62) that were different from genotypes so far reported in Brazil. All 24 isolates were successfully genotyped; 15 isolates were Brazil chicken type #59, 1 type #60, 1 type #61, 1 type #62; 5 were Type II (with Type I allele at the Apico locus); and 1 isolate was clonal Type III. Results in this study indicate that T. gondii on this island consists of unique genotypes as well as clonal genotypes that are dominant in Europe and North America.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Chlamydophila psittaci in zoo workers in Brazil.

To evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydophila psittaci 364 serum samples were collected from veterinarians, biologists, animal scientists, veterinary students, animal keepers and others employees in 20 zoos, and from veterinary practitioners in 10 Brazilian states. Subjects ranged from 15 to 64 years of age, with 268 (74%) males and 96 (26%) females. Chlamydial antibodies were determined by the complement fixation test (CFT) and specific anti-C. psittaci IgG antibodies were determined by the microimmunoflurescence (MIF) test. Complement fixation test showed 23.9% (87/364) and MIF test showed 4.7% (17/364) positive serum samples. Titres ranged from 16 to 256 in both assays, demonstrating evidence of recent or current infection. Although chlamydial antibodies were detected in workers of seventeen zoos, MIF test only detected specific C. psittaci antibodies in seven of them. Previous psittacosis infection was suspected in eight workers of two zoos, five of whom reported having pneumonia, while employed at the zoos. However, diagnosis was not established in any of these cases in the past. Results indicated the occurrence of infection and previous contact of Brazilian zoo workers with C. psittaci, as well as the zoonotic potential of psittacosis in this risk population. Other studies are necessary to evaluate the risk factors of infection in this population. This seroepidemiological survey confirmed the need to adopt preventive measures to control avian chlamydiosis and protect the health of zoo workers in the country.

Situação epidemiológica da brucelose bovina no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / Epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Realizou-se um estudo para caracterizar a situação epidemiológica da brucelose bovina. O Estado foi dividido em sete regiões. Em cada região foram amostradas aleatoriamente cerca de 300 propriedades, e dentro dessas foi escolhido de forma aleatória um número pré-estabelecido de animais, dos quais foi obtida uma amostra de sangue. No total foram amostrados 16.072 animais, provenientes de 1.957 propriedades. Em cada propriedade amostrada foi aplicado um questionário epidemiológico para verificar o tipo de exploração e as práticas zootécnicas e sanitárias que poderiam estar associadas ao risco de infecção pela doença. O protocolo de testes utilizado foi o da triagem com o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado e o reteste dos positivos com o teste do 2-mercaptoetanol. O rebanho foi considerado positivo se pelo menos um animal foi reagente às duas provas sorológicas. Para o Estado, as prevalências de focos e de animais infectados foram, respectivamente, 2,1 por cento [1,5-2,6 por cento] e 1,0 por cento [0,60-1,4 por cento]. Para os circuitos, a prevalência de focos e a de animais foram, respectivamente: circuito 1, 3,1 por cento [1,4-5,7 por cento] e 0,95 por cento [0,0-2,0 por cento]; circuito 2, 7,7 por cento [4,9-11,3 por cento] e 1,0 por cento [0,40-1,7 por cento]; circuito 3, 5,7 por cento [3,4-8,8 por cento] e 2,1 por cento [0,41-3,8 por cento]; circuito 4, 0,66 por cento [0,08-2,4 por cento] e 0,66 por cento [0,0-1,8 por cento]; circuito 5, 0,66 por cento [0,08-2,4 por cento] e 0,05 por cento [0,0-0,13 por cento]; circuito 6, 0,0 por cento [0,0-1,3 por cento] e 0,0 por cento [0,0-0,25 por cento]; circuito 7, 5,4 por cento [2,5-10,1 por cento] e 2,9 por cento [0,49-5,3 por cento]. Os fatores de risco (odds ratio, OR) associados à condição de foco foram: exploração de corte (OR= 4,27 [1,82-10,01]) e histórico de aborto (OR= 3,27, [1,71-6,25]).

A study to characterize the epidemiological status of bovine brucellosis was carried out in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The State was divided in seven regions. Three hundred herds were randomly sampled in each region and a pre-established number of animals were sampled in each of these herds. A total of 16,072 serum samples from 1,957 herds, were collected. In each herd, it was applied an epidemiological questionnaire focused on herd traits as well as husbandry and sanitary practices that could be associated with the risk of infection. The serum samples were screened for antibodies against Brucella spp. by the Rose-Bengal Test and all positive sera were re-tested by the 2-mercaptoethanol test. The herd was considered positive if at least one animal was positive on both tests. The prevalences of infected herds and animals in the State were, respectively 2.1 percent [1.5-2.6 percent] and 1.0 percent [0.60-1.4 percent]. In the regions, the prevalences of infected herds and animals were, respectively: region 1, 3.1 percent [1.4-5.7 percent] and 0.95 percent [0.0-2.0 percent]; region 2, 7.7 percent [4.9-11.3 percent] and 1.0 percent [0.40-1.7 percent]; region 3, 5.7 percent [3.4-8.8 percent] and 2.1 percent [0.41-3.8 percent]; region 4, 0.66 percent [0.08-2.4 percent] and 0.66 percent [0.0-1.8 percent]; region 5, 0.66 percent [0.08-2.4 percent] and 0.05 percent [0.0-0.13 percent]; region 6, 0.0 percent [0.0-1.3 percent] and 0.0 percent [0.0-0.25 percent]; and region 7, 5.4 percent [2.5-10.1 percent] and 2.9 percent [0.49-5.3 percent]. The risk factors (odds ratio, OR) associated with the presence of infection were: beef herd (OR= 4.27 [1.82-10.01]) and recent history of abortion (OR= 3.27-1.71-6.25]).

Fatores de risco associados à ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em cães do município de Monte Negro, Rondônia, Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira / Risk factors associated with anti-Leptospira spp antibodies occurrence in dogs from Monte Negro County, Rondônia, Brazilian Western Amazon

Foram testados, pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica aplicada à leptospirose, 329 cães provenientes do município de Monte Negro, RO, dos quais 156 eram da área urbana e 173 da área rural. Simultaneamente foi aplicado questionário para verificar a existência de possíveis fatores de risco pela regressão logística. Abordaram-se questões referentes a idade, sexo, dieta, tipo de criação, ambiente, contato com outras espécies e hábito de caça. Foram detectadas reações com títulos >100 em 27,3 por cento, com 90 cães positivos ao agente, das quais 23,7 por cento eram da área (37/156) urbana e 30,6 por cento (53/173), da área rural (P>0,05). Os sorovares predominantes, reatores com títulos mais elevados, foram Autumnalis (22 por cento), Pyrogenes (12 por cento), Canicola (10 por cento) e Shermani (7,5 por cento). Cães com idade acima de 12 meses apresentaram maior ocorrência de anticorpos quando comparados aos cães mais jovens (P<0,05). Dentre os fatores de risco analisados, foram significativos a alimentação (dieta à base de ração comercial - odds ratio: 3,3; intervalo de confiança: 95 por cento: 1,2 - 9,2; P=0,02) e o sexo (macho - odds ratio: 2,3; intervalo de confiança: 95 por cento: 1,3 - 3,9; P=0,003). Ressalta-se a ocorrência de reações para sorovares mantidos na natureza por animais silvestres.

The microscopic agglutination test was applied to 329 samples taken from 156 dogs from urban area and 173 from rural areas of Monte Negro County, Rondônia State, Brazil, to determine anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies. A survey was concomitantly done to detect eventual risk factors thru the use of logistic regression. Studied variables were age, sex, diet, management, environment, contact with other species and hunting habit. Titers >100 were detected in 27.3 percent (90/329) of the dogs, being 23.7 percent (37/156) urban and 30.6 percent (53/173) rural dogs. The most frequent serovars were Autumnalis (22.0 percent), Pyrogenes (12.0 percent), Canicola (10.0 percent) and Shermani (7.5 percent). Dogs older than 12 months showed higher positive frequencies than younger animals (P<0.05). Risk factor were associated with commercial food as compared to homemade food (odds ratio: 3.3; 95 percent confidence interval : 1.3 - 3.9; P=0.02) and associated with sex, with higher occurrence in males than in females (odds ratio: 2.3; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.3 - 3.9; P=0.003). It was emphasized the serological occurrence of serovars kept and spread in nature by wild animals.