Aspectos epidemiológicos da ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Sarcocystis spp. e anti-Toxoplasma gondii em cães da região norte do Brasil

Abstract

We aimed a serological-epidemiological study on the occurrence of anti-Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii antibodies in dogs from family farming properties in the municipality of Ji-Paraná, Rondônia State. Blood samples were collected from apparently healthy dogs, between September 2012 and November 2013. Overall, we analyzed 181 blood serum by means indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) and observed the occurrence of 57 (31.49%) and 20 (11.04%) positive samples for T. gondii and for Sarcocystis, respectively. Statistical analysis were performed and the kind of food provided to dogs was associated with occurrences of anti-Sarcocystis antibodies, while age and access to bovine carcass were the variables that showed as risk factors for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. The high occurrence of seropositive dogs shows a wide and high incidence of the infectious agents in the study area, possibly with the human and livestock exposure to the disease. Yet, these results may reflect the magnitude of parasite contamination in their environment. Anti-T. gondii antibodies and dog age revealed statistically difference, with a significant increase in the number of positive animals with age. High antibodies titers against to the Sacocystis sp. (up to 800) founded in dogs, suggest the exposure as well as environmental contamination.