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Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in swine, bovine, ovine and equine, and their correlation with human, felines and canines, from farms in north region of Paraná state, Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii the agent causing toxoplasmosis has a worldwide distribution. In the present study we attempt to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in food animals and horses from farms in Jaguapitã county. IgG antibody were detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Titers higher or equal to 1:64 were considered reactive. We found prevalence rates of 24% (267) for swine, 25.8% (400) for bovine , 51.8% (228) for ovine samples, and 12.1% (173) for equine. Seropositivity increased with age in sheeps and pigs, there were no gender differences in the species studied. There was a positive and significant correlation between human and feline (r= 0.64 p=0.05), human and canine (r=0.78 p=0.01), canine and swine (r=0.96 p=0.0001), bovine and ovine (r=0.82 p=0.006), bovine and equine (r=0.89 p=0.001), and ovine and equine (r=0.92 p=0.0004) titers. These results suggest that carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores are exposed to the same sources of transmission. Toxoplasmosis has a high prevalence on the studied population. Our results suggest that raw or rare cooked meat may an important way of transmiting toxoplasmosis to humans in this region.

seroepidemiology; seroprevalence; Toxoplasma gondii; swine; bovine; ovine; equine


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