Kennel dogs as sentinels of Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in Majorca Island, Spain

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of antibodies against Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania infantum in dogs attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil, where there are no reports of the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs. Serum samples from 530 dogs of genders, different ages and breeds from the municipality of Teresina and nearby towns were analyzed using three indirect fluorescent antibody tests, each one targeting one of the three agents. The associations between the parasites and gender, breed and age of the dogs were assessed by the chi-square test (p > 0.05). The occurrence of antibodies to N. caninum, T. gondii and L. infantum was 3.2, 18.0 and 78.1%, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii was more frequently found in older dogs (p < 0.05) whereas L. infantum was more common in animals aged between 1 to 3 years (p < 0.05). In order to evaluate potential associations between the presence of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii antibodies and Leishmania infection, 240 dogs were selected (120 positive and 120 negative for Leishmania spp.), based on serological and parasitological diagnoses. No association was found between Leishmania spp. and the coccidian parasites (p > 0.05). The results confirm the exposure of dogs to these parasites in the State of Piauí.

Download Full-text

Coinfecções por Leishmania infantum, Neospora caninum e Toxoplasma gondii em cães necropsiados da região central do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/1678-4162-9412 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 109-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

F.R. Ratzlaff ◽

A.M. Engelmann ◽

F.S. Luz ◽

P. Bräunig ◽

C.M. Andrade ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Santa Maria

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a presença de anticorpos para Leishmania infantum, Neospora caninum e Toxoplasma gondii, por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), em cães (n=78) provenientes da região central do Rio Grande do Sul, necropsiados no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), bem como avaliar os dados epidemiológicos, sazonais e anátomo-histopatológicos. Do total de animais avaliados, 67,9% (53/78) apresentaram soropositividade para ao menos um agente. A ocorrência de anticorpos para L. infantum, N. caninum e T. gondii foi de 33,3 (26/78), 37,1 (29/78) e 43,5% (34/78), respectivamente. Detectaram-se monoinfecções em 9,4% (5/53) para L. infantum, 18,8% (10/53) para N. caninum e 20,7% (11/53) para T. gondii. As coinfecções foram observadas em 27/53 (50,9%) dos animais. As infecções ocorreram independentemente de idade, sexo, procedência ou raça (P>0,05). Não se verificaram lesões anatomo-histopatológicas relacionadas aos agentes pesquisados, caracterizando-os como animais assintomáticos. Os resultados confirmaram a exposição de cães a esses protozoários na região central do RS e, em especial, demonstraram a circulação do agente causador da leishmaniose em uma área considerada indene para a enfermidade.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum in Rattus rattus in absence of domestic reservoir and definitive hosts

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.023 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 199 (3-4) ◽

pp. 247-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

S. Zanet ◽

P. Sposimo ◽

A. Trisciuoglio ◽

F. Giannini ◽

F. Strumia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Rattus Rattus

Download Full-text

Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leishmania amazonensis antibodies in domestic dogs in the western Brazilian Amazon region

Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science ◽

10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2016.103903 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sérgio De Almeida Basano ◽

Paulo Tarso ◽

Herbert Sousa Soares ◽

Andrea Pereira Costa ◽

Arlei Marcili ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Brazilian Amazon ◽

Amazon Region ◽

Leishmania Amazonensis ◽

Domestic Dogs ◽

Brazilian Amazon Region ◽

Leishmania Infantum Chagasi

Amostras de sangue de 99 cães domiciliados foram coletadas no meio urbano (n = 33) e rural (n = 66) do município de Lábrea, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Dentre as amostras rurais, 40 foram obtidas em comunidades ribeirinhas e 26 em comunidades indígenas, ambas ao longo do rio Purus. Durante a amostragem foi aplicado um questionário com informações sobre sexo, idade, viver em áreas secas ou alagadiças, acesso ou não às ruas (cães urbanos) e acesso à floresta. A presença de anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Leishmania infantum chagasi e Leishmania amazonensis foi detectada pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) com ponto de corte de, respectivamente, 16, 50, 40 e 40. Associação entre as variáveis qualitativas e a positividade para cada um dos parasitos foi avaliada pelo teste do χ2 (p < 0,05). A ocorrência de animais com anticorpos contra T. gondii, N. caninum e L. amazonensis foi de, respectivamente, 61,6%; 7,1% e 8,1%. Nenhuma amostra foi positiva para L. infantum chagasi. A variável viver em área urbana (p=0,041) apresentou associação com ocorrência de T. gondii e o número de cães positivos a T. gondii aumentou com a idade (p = 0,0006). A variável sexo (machos) apresentou associação com N. caninum (p = 0,018) e nenhuma variável apresentou associação com L. amazonensis. Os títulos de anticorpos contra T. gondii variaram de 64 a 32.768; contra N. caninum de 100 a 800 e contra L. amazonensis de 40 a 640. T. gondii e L. amazonensis são dois agentes de importantes zoonoses e encontram-se ativos na região. O município estudado, especialmente as comunidades ribeirinhas, possuem peculiaridades geográficas, sociais e ecológicas distintas e necessitam maior atenção das autoridades para o controle desses agentes.

Download Full-text

Serological cross-reactivity of Trypanosoma cruzi, Ehrlichia canis, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Babesia canis to Leishmania infantum chagasi tests in dogs

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/0037-8682-1723-2013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 105-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Maurício Franco Zanette ◽

Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima ◽

Márcia Dalastra Laurenti ◽

Claudio Nazaretian Rossi ◽

Juliana Peloi Vides ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Ehrlichia Canis ◽

Babesia Canis ◽

Leishmania Infantum Chagasi

Download Full-text

Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum and Neospora caninum in cats from an area endemic for leishmaniasis in Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612014078 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 449-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Keyla Carstens Marques de Sousa ◽

Heitor Miraglia Herrera ◽

Iara Helena Domingos ◽

João Bosco Vilela Campos ◽

Isabela Maria Campanelli dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Significant Interaction ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Mato Grosso Do Sul

An investigation was made into the occurrence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania infantum and Neospora caninum in 151 domestic cats, based on the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Serum samples were collected from 151 domestic cats (65 free-roaming and 86 domiciled cats; 55 males and 96 females) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil between January and April 2013. IgG antibodies to T. gondii, L. infantum and N. caninum were found, respectively, in 49 (32.5%), 34 (22.5%) and 10 (6.6%) sampled cats. A positive correlation was found between T. gondii and N. caninum, T. gondii and L. infantum, and N. caninum and L. infantum (p <0.05) infections. Also, a significant interaction was identified between gender and area of activity on the probability of T. gondii (p = 0.0324) infection. However, no significant interaction was observed between gender and area of activity on infections by either N. caninum or L. infantum. This study showed that cats from an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil are exposed to three different protozoans, two of which are causal agents of important zoonosis.

Download Full-text

Neospora caninum and/or Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence: Vaccination against PCV2 and Muscle Enzyme Activity in Seropositive and Seronegative Pigs

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9051097 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1097

Author(s):

Labrini V. Athanasiou ◽

Vasileios G. Papatsiros ◽

Victoria M. Spanou ◽

Eleni G. Katsogiannou ◽

Anna Dedousi

Keyword(s):

Enzyme Activity ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Human Infection ◽

Porcine Circovirus ◽

Muscle Enzyme ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Zoonotic Pathogen ◽

Muscle Enzyme Activity ◽

Immunofluorescence Antibody

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii affect both humans and animals worldwide. To investigate their seroprevalence and differences in seropositivity between pigs vaccinated and unvaccinated against porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), as well as differences in muscle enzyme activity between seropositive and seronegative pigs, blood samples were collected from 380 sows. Antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay, while the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were biochemically assessed. Out of the 364 sows finally included in the study, 4.4%, 3.5%, and 0.5% were seropositive to T. gondii, N. caninum, or both. A significantly higher percentage of seropositivity against T. gondii and/or N. caninum in PCV2 unvaccinated pigs compared with vaccinated pigs was observed. Increased serum activities of CK and AST were detected in 71.43% and 100% of only against T. gondii (T+) and 63.64% and 90.91% of only against N. caninum (N+) seropositive sows, respectively, and were significantly higher compared to seronegative animals. T. gondii and N. caninum seropositivity, especially in presumed immunocompromised pigs, and the evidence of muscle damage highlight their importance as a zoonotic pathogen and animal model of human infection, respectively.

Download Full-text

Cytologic detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the cerebrospinal fluid of a dog and in vitro isolation of a unique mouse-virulent recombinant strain

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/1040638721996685 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104063872199668

Author(s):

Waléria Borges-Silva ◽

Mariana M. Rezende-Gondim ◽

Gideão S. Galvão ◽

Daniele S. Rocha ◽

George R. Albuquerque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Recombinant Strain ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Species Identity ◽

Cytologic Examination ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

Tissue Homogenates

Parasites resembling Neospora caninum or Toxoplasma gondii were detected by cytologic examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a dog with neurologic disease. The dog became severely ill and was euthanized. Canine tissue homogenates were used for direct parasite isolation in cell culture, bioassay in 2 mouse lineages, and PCR. T. gondii was isolated in monkey kidney cells, and species identity was confirmed by PCR. Inoculated parasites were highly virulent for mice, which developed clinical signs and were euthanized immediately. PCR-RFLP for T. gondii using the cultured isolate (TgDgBA22) was conducted with 12 genetic markers, and a unique recombinant strain was identified. Detection of T. gondii by CSF cytology, although described in humans, had not been reported previously in dogs, to our knowledge, and was crucial for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in the examined dog.

Download Full-text

Occurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum and/or Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with neurological signs

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612011000300004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 202-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicolle Fridlund Plugge ◽

Fabiano Montiani Ferreira ◽

Rosária Regina Tesoni de Barros Richartz ◽

Adriana de Siqueira ◽

Rosangela Locatelli Dittrich

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Metropolitan Region ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Stray Dogs ◽

Neurological Signs ◽

Significant Difference

This study aimed to evaluate occurrences of antibodies against Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with neurological signs. Blood samples from 147 dogs were collected: 127 from owned dogs (attended at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná (HV-UFPR) and at private veterinary clinics in the city of Curitiba), and 20 from stray dogs found in Curitiba's metropolitan region. The dogs presented one or more of the following neurological signs: seizures, paresis or paralysis, ataxia, behavioral abnormalities, sensory and somatic disorders and chorioretinitis. The samples were analyzed by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), at a cutoff dilution of 1:50. Out of the 147 samples obtained, 17 (11.56%) were seropositive for N. caninum, 31 (21.08%) for T. gondii and four (2.72%) for both protozoa. Serum titration on the positive animals showed that 54.83% (17/31) and 41.18% (7/17) had titers > 1:200 against T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. A significant difference in seropositivity for T. gondii (P = 0.021; OR = 2.87; CI = 1.1 > 2.8 > 7.4) was observed between owned dogs (18.11%) and stray dogs (40%). Inclusion of serological tests for neosporosis and toxoplasmosis is recommended in diagnosing neurological diseases in dogs.

Download Full-text