Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii  Infection in Goats in Southern Brazil

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidium, obligate intracellular protozoan, with complex life cycle, affecting virtually all-animal species homoeothermics. Goats are considered susceptible to infection by T. gondii, alterations being reported as pathological fetal death (with subsequent reabsorption), abortion, mummification, and/or the birth of weak goats. Because of these consequences to the animal, the disease is investigated throughout the Brazilian territory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and identify risk factors in goats.Materials, Methods & Results: It were collected 654 blood samples from goats distributed on west and mountainous regions of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The number municipalities with the highest numbers of goats were used, with an expected prevalence of 25%, error of 3.2% and confidence level of 95%. All collected samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and 216 (33.02%; 95% CI 29.43-36.77) had antibodies against T. gondii (IFA ≥ 1: 64). Titration 1:64 was observed more frequently (60.2%; 130/216) among seropositive animals. The region with the highest prevalence was the west, i.e., more prone to infections present, with 1.16 more chances than the mountainous region. Animals Boer were more likely to T. gondii infection, being race is a risk factor for disease. When the presence of cats on the property, and these animals had chances of direct contact with cats, the chance of infection increased significantly, being 1.04 times higher went compared with lack of this feature. Regarding age, the animals aged two to five years had higher seropositivity (77.8%). Statistical analysis of effect-cause studies reported a relationship between soropositive animals and neurological problems (P ≤ 0.05), but no relation was found for T. gondii infection and reproductive problems (P > 0.05).Discussion: In the state of Santa Catarina, approximately 33% of the goats were seropositive for T. gondii, according to results of this study. Several other studies has been performed on T. gondii antibodies detection in Brazil, such as Paraná which was 44.68%, in Rio Grande do Norte was 17.1%, in Rio de Janeiro was 29.12%, in Maranhão was 36.95%, in Bahia was 17.4%, in Minas Gerais was 21.4%, in Alagoas was 39% and in Rio Grande do Sul was 30%. The type of food and water source given to the animals was not considered a risk factor for T. gondii infection, although some authors mention that cat feces contaminated with oocysts of the parasite can be more easily ingested in the diet with concentrated (cats have access) and natural water sources. This study showed that 53% of the animals studied had contact with cats, and this variable was considered a risk factor for disease. Statistically, unverified relationship between reproductive problems and goats seropositive for T. gondii, although of approximately 24% of the animals studied showed some reproductive problems (abortion, mummified or heat repetition). In the effect-cause analysis, neurological issues were related to infection by T. gondii in goats, the that can easily be explained because the parasitic cysts of T. gondii may persist in the central nervous system for a long period. The results suggest that infection by T. gondii occurs in goats in two regions of Santa Catarina, in addition, and the risk factors related to disease was between both studied regions, race and presence and contact with cats, just as there is a relation between disease and neurological disorders in goats.

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Occurrence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats from micro-regions of the state of Piauí

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n6p2457 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 2457 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karina Rodrigues dos Santos ◽

Jezlon Da Fonseca Lemos ◽

Carla Duque Lopes ◽

Richard Atila Sousa ◽

Marcelo Richelly Alves de Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Water Source ◽

The State ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats from micro-regions of the state of Piauí (Brazil). From six randomly selected properties, 145 goats were examined. Serum samples of the animals were analyzed by ELISA for the presence or absence of antibodies against T. gondii. Of these, 22% were seroreactive for T. gondii. Individual records were also taken for each property. These analyses showed that factors such as sex, age, water source, and presence of cats were associated with animal seropositivity. In addition, there was also a positive correlation (p > 0.04) between animal sex and T. gondii contamination. The presence of cats in the facilities and animal pasture fields appeared to be a risk factor for the contamination of goats in the assessed properties (p > 0.03). The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is present in the goat herds of southern Piauí state, and females are more likely to be contaminated.

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Frequency of antibodies and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in backyard pig production in the city of Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612019036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 508-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Isabela Maria Campanelli dos Santos ◽

Alexandro Iris Leite ◽

Maria Eduarda Chiaradia Furquim ◽

Diego Carlos de Souza Zanatto ◽

Simone de Jesus Fernandes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Female Gender ◽

Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

P Value ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis for pregnant women and immunosuppressed people. The pig population also becomes infected by this pathogen, and undercooked or raw meat is an important source of infection for humans. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the rate of exposure of pigs to T. gondii in the municipality of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte and seek to identify associations with possible risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 412 pigs and were analyzed using the immunofluorescence assay. Among these 412 serum samples, 40.7% were seropositive for T. gondii. The IgG antibody titers were 64 (56 specimens), 128 (32), 256 (37), 512 (23), 1024 (14), 2048 (5) and 4046 (1). Seropositivity for T. gondii was found to be related (p-value < 0.05) to the following factors: female gender, semi-confined rearing system, use of well water, dewormed animals, presence of cats, goats, sheep, mice and vultures on the farm and carcasses left on the ground. In contrast, seropositivity was not related (p-value < 0.05) to the age of the pigs, type of facility or feeding with human food remains. Preventive measures need to be adopted on the farms studied here, with the aim of decreasing the animals’ intake of sporulated oocysts.

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First report on seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats in North Lebanon

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.11425 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (09) ◽

pp. 831-836 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dima El Safadi ◽

Dany Abi Chahine ◽

Alissar Al Tarraf ◽

Omar Raii ◽

Karim Mesto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Immunoglobulin G ◽

Agglutination Test ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is of dual importance in both public and veterinary health due to the respective risk of transplacental transmission in primo-infected pregnant women and economic losses caused by abortions in mammals. One of the main routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission to humans is the consumption of raw or undercooked meats containing parasitic cysts. Here, we performed the first epidemiological study to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in livestock in Lebanon. Methodology: Using a modified agglutination test with a cut-off of 1:40, we tested the positivity rate of Immunoglobulin G antibodies in the sera of 100 sheep and 80 goats collected from 18 different livestock farms located in North Lebanon between March and June 2018. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 42% of sheep and 34% of goats. Adults (> 1 year) were significantly more infected by T. gondii than the lambs (< 1 year) in both species (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicated that food animals are highly exposed to T. gondii in Lebanon and could be potentially a major risk factor of T. gondii infection to humans. Consequently, national prophylactic strategies should be implemented to control and to prevent T. gondii transmission between animals and humans.

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Toxoplasma gondii antibodies sheep in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and comparison using IFA and ELISA

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612012000300004 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 196-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Francine Bragagnolo Liz Stefen Sakata ◽

Valdomiro Bellato ◽

Amélia Aparecida Sartor ◽

Anderson Barbosa de Moura ◽

Antonio Pereira de Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

Infected Sheep ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Santa Catarina ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Zoonotic Infections ◽

Infected Meat ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Toxoplasmosis in sheep is a disease of great importance in veterinary medicine, which causes economic losses in livestock and has a great impact on human health, since consumption of infected meat facilitates transmission of zoonotic infections. Blood samples from sheep (n = 360) were collected from 13 farm properties in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina, to estimate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and identify risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection. T. gondii, antibodies were investigated by means of the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Animals infected with T. gondii were found on 100% of the farms. IFA detected 56.9% (205/360) and ELISA 42.5% of the infected sheep. Breed was the only risk factor associated with the presence of T. gondii antibodies. ELISA showed sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 82% and kappa of 0.41, which was considered moderate. This allows use of ELISA as an alternative technique for diagnosing T. gondii in sheep.

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Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep flocks from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n3p1397 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 1397 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maiara Sanitá Tafner Ferreira ◽

Fernanda Silveira Flores Vogel ◽

Luis Antonio Sangioni ◽

Alfredo Skrebsky Cezar ◽

Fernanda Rezer de Menezes

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Potential Damage ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are coccidian parasites (protozoa: Apicomplexa) that cause reproductive losses in ruminants. Although, in sheep, abortion is generally related to T. gondii, potential damage caused by N. caninum must be considered. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of antibodies against Neospora spp. and T. gondii, and to identify the risk factors related to neosporosis and toxoplasmosis in sheep from ten flocks located in Central-Western, Northwestern, Southwestern, and Southeastern mesoregions of the Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 300 sheep (30 per flock) and an epidemiological questionnaire was completed by the farmers. The presence of canids, felids, and rodents, the sources of water for the animals, and their reproductive history were investigated as potential epidemiological factors related to the studied infections. Serum samples were tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody test for the presence of antibodies against Neospora spp. (cutoff 1:50) and T. gondii (cutoff 1:64), with respective frequencies detected being 16.3% (49/300) and 41.3% (124/300). Seropositivity to both parasites was observed in 8% (24/300) of the animals. Neospora spp. and T. gondii were present in 90% (9/10) and 100% (10/10) of the flocks, respectively. The presence of cats in the pastures, pens, and barns was significantly associated (p=0.047) with high frequencies (53.3% to 70%) of antibodies against T. gondii in the flocks. However, no associations were detected (p>0.05) between each of the other risk factors and the frequency of antibodies against Neospora spp. or T. gondii. Results of this study showed a broad distribution of both protozoa in evaluated sheep flocks.

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Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Downhill Skiers and Mountain Hikers and Specific Prevention Strategies

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1621

Author(s):

Josef Niebauer ◽

Martin Burtscher

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

High Intensity ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

High Intensity Exercise ◽

Systemic Hypertension ◽

Physical Strain ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Downhill Skiing

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) still represents an unanticipated and catastrophic event eliciting from cardiac causes. SCD is the leading cause of non-traumatic deaths during downhill skiing and mountain hiking, related to the fact that these sports are very popular among elderly people. Annually, more than 40 million downhill skiers and mountain hikers/climbers visit mountainous regions of the Alps, including an increasing number of individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases. Data sets from two previously published case-control studies have been used to draw comparisons between the SCD risk of skiers and hikers. Data of interest included demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, medical history, physical activity, and additional symptoms and circumstances of sudden death for cases. To establish a potential connection between the SCD risk and sport-specific physical strain, data on cardiorespiratory responses to downhill skiing and mountain hiking, assessed in middle-aged men and women, have been included. It was demonstrated that previous myocardial infarction (MI) (odds ratio; 95% CI: 92.8; 22.8–379.1; p < 0.001) and systemic hypertension (9.0; 4.0–20.6; p < 0.001) were predominant risk factors for SCD in skiers, but previous MI (10.9; 3.8–30.9; p < 0.001) and metabolic disorders like hypercholesterolemia (3.4; 2.2–5.2; p < 0.001) and diabetes (7.4; 1.6–34.3; p < 0.001) in hikers. More weekly high-intensity exercise was protective in skiers (0.17; 0.04–0.74; p = 0.02), while larger amounts of mountain sports activities per year were protective in hikers (0.23; 0.1–0.4; <0.001). In conclusion, previous MI history represents the most important risk factor for SCD in recreational skiers and hikers as well, and adaptation to high-intensity exercise is especially important to prevent SCD in skiers. Moreover, the presented differences in risk factor patterns for SCDs and discussed requirements for physical fitness in skiers and hikers will help physicians to provide specifically targeted advice.

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Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic sika deer (Cervus nippon) in northeastern China

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.08.021 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 140 ◽

pp. 184-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Si-Yuan Qin ◽

Xiao-Xuan Zhang ◽

Wei Cong ◽

Dong-Hui Zhou ◽

Jin-Lei Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Sika Deer ◽

Cervus Nippon ◽

Northeastern China ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: Prevalence, risk factors, genotypes and association with clinical diagnosis

Cancer Letters ◽

10.1016/j.canlet.2015.01.036 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 359 (2) ◽

pp. 307-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Wei Cong ◽

Guo-Hua Liu ◽

Qing-Feng Meng ◽

Wei Dong ◽

Si-Yuan Qin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Clinical Diagnosis ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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Prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in certified and non-certified pig breeding farms in the Toledo microregion, PR, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612010000300005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 152-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Piassa Franciele Rossandra ◽

Jacqueline Baptista de Araújo ◽

Ronaldo César da Rosa ◽

Rodrigo José Mattei ◽

Rodrigo Costa da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Human Infection ◽

Control Measures ◽

Rodent Control ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

Toxoplasma Infection ◽

Pork Products ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Breeding Farms

Toxoplasma gondii infection has been diagnosed in pigs all over the world. Economical losses are generally related to reproductive disorders. Toxoplasma infection is also a matter of public health because tissue cysts of the parasite may remain in pork and pork products, and become sources of human infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection in certified and non-certified pig breeding farms in the Toledo microregion, in the State of Paraná, Brazil which includes the cities of Toledo, Nova Santa Rosa, Sao José das Palmeiras and Sao Pedro do Iguaçu. Relative frequency of infection was 13.4%, independently of the type of farm. Logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were associated with infection: absence of workers exclusive for each area of the farm, access of other animals to feeders and drinkers, lack of lids in drinkers, lack of rodent control measures, mean piglet number and weight at weaning per female.

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