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Tropical medicine and infectious disease2023; 8(4); 234; doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040234

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Urban Traction Equids in Northeast Brazil: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anti- and anti- antibodies in equids that carry out traction work in Northeastern Brazil, and to establish the potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for these agents. Blood samples were collected from 322 traction equids (horses, donkeys and mules) in urban areas of 16 municipalities in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. The samples were sent for serological diagnosis using the Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Epidemiological questionnaires were given to the owners to assess the possible risk factors associated with infections. It was observed that 13.7% (44/322, CI: 10.9-16.5) of the equids tested positive for anti- antibodies and 5% (16/322, CI: 2.6-7.4) tested positive for anti- antibodies. Conducting traction work for over four years was considered a risk factor associated with infection (odds ratio: 6.050; CI: 4.38-8.54, = 0.025). There were no risk factors associated with infection. It was concluded that traction equids have a significant prevalence of anti- and anti- antibodies in urban areas in the State of Paraíba, with an identified risk factor for seropositivity for anti- as conducting traction work for more than four years.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-20 PubMed ID: 37104359PubMed Central: PMC10146200DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040234Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research aims to understand the prevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in urban working equids in Northeast Brazil, including risk factors that contribute to the seropositivity of these antibodies. Results reveal a significant prevalence of the said antibodies, particularly in equids that have been working for over four years.

Understanding the Research Study

  • The goal of this study was to understand the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in working equids (donkeys, mules, and horses) in urban areas of Northeast Brazil. Equids serve a crucial role in these urban areas, typically used for carrying heavy loads. However, their health could be at risk due to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, parasites that can cause infections in animals.
  • The researchers collected blood samples from 322 equids across 16 municipalities in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. These samples underwent serological testing using the Immunofluorescence Antibody Test, a technique used to detect specific antibodies in blood samples, in this case, antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum.
  • The equids’ owners were given an epidemiological questionnaire in order to gather information regarding potential risk factors for infections.

Findings of the Study

  • The results indicated that 13.7% of the equids tested positive for Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Meanwhile, 5% of them tested positive for Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. This highlights a considerable prevalence of these antibodies amongst the urban equid population in the area.
  • Working for over four years was identified as a risk factor for Toxoplasma gondii infection. The odds ratio (which is a measure of the strength of association between exposure and outcome) for this risk factor was determined to be 6.050 (CI: 4.38-8.54, p=0.025). This means that equids that have been doing traction work for more than four years are about 6 times more likely to test positive for Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies than those working for less time.
  • Interestingly, the study did not find any risk factors associated with Neospora caninum infection among equids.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the study concludes that working equids in the urban areas of the State of Paraíba in Northeast Brazil have a significant prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies.
  • Of importance, the research emphasizes how working for more than four years can increase the likelihood of an equid testing positive for Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies.

Cite This Article

APA
Costa PWL, Oliveira CSM, Bezerra RA, Alvares FBV, Formiga VHAS, Martins MRDD, Feitosa TF, Vilela VLR. (2023). Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Urban Traction Equids in Northeast Brazil: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors. Trop Med Infect Dis, 8(4), 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8040234

Publication

Tropical medicine and infectious disease
ISSN: 2414-6366
NlmUniqueID: 101709042
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 4
PII: 234

Researcher Affiliations

Costa, Paulo Wbiratan Lopes
  • Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil.
Oliveira, Clarisse Silva Menezes
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil.
Bezerra, Roberto Alves
  • Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil.
Alvares, Felipe Boniedj Ventura
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil.
Formiga, Victor Hugo Alves Sousa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil.
Martins, Marianne Rachel Domiciano Dantas
  • Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil.
Feitosa, Thais Ferreira
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil.
Vilela, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro
  • Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil.
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil.

Grant Funding

  • 304472/2021-2 / National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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