Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in the northeastern region of Brazil

Authors

  • Huber Rizzo Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária
  • Natália Carrillo Gaeta Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6397-605X
  • João Henrique Costa HORA Independent Veterinarian
  • Jeferson da Silva Carvalho Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária
  • José Wilton Pinheiro Júnior Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária
  • Solange Maria Gennari Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Hilda Fátima de Jesus Pena Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Eliana Monteforte Cassaro Villalobos Instituto Biológico, Secretaria da Agricultura e Abastecimento, Laboratório de Raiva e Encefalites
  • Lilian Gregory Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2017.117795

Keywords:

Abortion, Oocyst, Sheep breeding, Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an infective parasite that causes reproductive disorders such as abortion, fetal mummification, birth of weak offspring, and stillbirth, thereby causing economic losses to sheep production. The northeastern region of Brazil has approximately 171 million small ruminants, of which 5.4% are sheep. The present study aimed at determining the rate of occurrence of T. gondii in sheep flocks on 60 farms in 19 municipalities in the three mesoregions (eastern, semi-arid, and sertão or backlands) of the state of Sergipe, Brazil, and the risk factors associated with this infection. Serum samples were collected between 2011 and 2012, from 60 farms located in 19 municipalities in the three mesoregions: 680 in the eastern region, 280 in the semi-arid region, and 240 in the backlands, totaling 1,200 samples (990 females and 210 males). Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by means of the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64). The highest occurrence was detected in the eastern region (45.3%, p = 0.001). On farms with subsistence production, the risk of having animals infected by T. gondii was approximately twice as high as on breeding/rebreeding/fattening farms (OR: 3.03; CI: 1.97-4.68). There was a significant lack of sanitary care, such as absence of a dunghill (p = 0.000; OR: 1.60; CI: 1.26-2.03), quarantine (p = 0.000; OR: 1.87; CI: 1.45-2.41) and disinfection (p = 0.003; OR: 1.46; CI: 1.13-1.88). Regarding feeding, the risk of infection was 1.74 and 1.37 times higher in places that used a trough and/or that cats could access, respectively. The presente study allows the conclusions that T. gondii is found on farms in the three mesoregions of the state of Sergipe and that environmental and management factors have an influence on sheep infection.

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Published

2017-08-18

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FULL ARTICLE

How to Cite

Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in the northeastern region of Brazil. (2017). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 54(2), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2017.117795