Occurrence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep of the Guarapuava region, Paraná, Brazil

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are diseases that may affect production animals and cause significant economic losses. Given the importance of this fact, risk factors and occurrence of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum were determined for 81 sheep in seven farms of the Guarap...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Janaína Menegazzo Gheller, Rafael Carniel, Adriano Oliveira de Torres Carrasco, Meire Christina Seki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2016-07-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.revistas.usp.br/bjvras/article/view/102447
Description
Summary:Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are diseases that may affect production animals and cause significant economic losses. Given the importance of this fact, risk factors and occurrence of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum were determined for 81 sheep in seven farms of the Guarapuava region, state of Paraná, Brazil. Indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) showed antibody frequency of 40.74% for T. gondii and 3.70% for N. caninum. The risk factors evaluated were: for T. gondii, direct contact of sheep with cats and for N. caninum, with dogs; abortion in the herd; and access of other animal species to the same water tank used by the sheep. CI (95%), Odds Ratio, and p value were determined by Fisher Exact Test. No statistical difference was observed between the occurrence of antibodies and risk factors associated with the presence of antibodies against both parasites. It may be stated that the protozoa T. gondii and N. caninum are found in the sheep herds of this region.
ISSN:1413-9596
1678-4456