Dados do Trabalho

Título

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with caprine toxoplasmosis in the state of Goiás

Introdução

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis with a high prevalence worldwide and of great importance in the context of single health, since it is directly related to environmental contamination and can affect humans and animals. When it occurs in small ruminants as well as triggering reproductive changes in animals, it can infect humans through the ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat.

Objetivo (s)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats in the state of Goiás, located in the Brazilian cerrado, a fact that has never been reported in the literature.

Material e Métodos

To this end, 894 blood serum samples obtained from goats from all regions of the state of Goiás were analyzed for the presence of anti-T.gondii antibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence test (RIFI). Data on the sex, age of the animals, size of the property, breeding system, water source, purpose of breeding, herd replacement, type of slaughter, veterinary assistance, and presence of domestic cats and wild cats were obtained at the time of sampling. The differences between the seroprevalence rates obtained in relation to the variables analyzed were estimated using Pearson's chi-square test (χ2). The odds ratio (OR) values for each risk factor assessed were statistically analyzed.

Resultados e Conclusão

Anti-T.gondii IgG positivity (titer ≥ 64) was found in 60.4% (540/894) of the samples analyzed. We found a wide distribution of seropositive animals in the state of Goiás, with the presence of at least one seropositive goat in all the mesoregions and microregions analyzed. In addition, the presence of at least one seropositive goat was detected in 91.40% (85/93) of the state's municipalities and 93.80% (121/129) of the farms evaluated. The age of the animals, size of the property, water source, farming system and purpose of farming were the risk factors statistically associated with the occurrence of T. gondii in goats. The high number of positive samples indicates the presence of toxoplasmosis in goats in the state of Goiás, pointing to the importance of strategies involving the creation of policies and programs aimed at preventing and controlling the infection, including raising farmers' awareness of the parasitosis.

Palavras Chave

One health; Epidemiology; Zoonosis; Toxoplasma gondii.