Seroepidemiology and spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil

Luiz Daniel Barros; Francielli Elaine de Araújo Sampaio; Douglas Aparecido da Silva; Isadora Brito Cortela; Maria Rachel Melo Bosculo; Letícia  Ramos Costa; Natália Camila  Minucci Bonatto; Ana Flávia Minutti; Juliana  Izidoro Lucas; Valdir Vieira da Silva; Jonatas Campos de Almeida; João Luis  Garcia; Breno Fernando Martins de Almeida

doi:10.17696/2318-3691.31.01.2025.266

Authors

Luiz Daniel Barros Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras-MG, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8560-3948
Francielli Elaine de Araújo Sampaio Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, Ourinhos-SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7107-6462
Douglas Aparecido da Silva Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6327-5242
Isadora Brito Cortela Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, Ourinhos-SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6143-5225
Maria Rachel Melo Bosculo Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, Ourinhos-SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0217-3621
Letícia Ramos Costa Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, Ourinhos-SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1585-3308
Natália Camila Minucci Bonatto Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9832-6727
Ana Flávia Minutti Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras-MG, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4847-8954
Juliana Izidoro Lucas Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6285-9334
Valdir Vieira da Silva Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3963-4719
Jonatas Campos de Almeida Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia-GO, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2282-4268
João Luis Garcia Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina-PR, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1826-7582
Breno Fernando Martins de Almeida Centro Universitário das Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos, Ourinhos-SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6379-6734

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17696/2318-3691.31.01.2025.266

Keywords:

Toxoplasmosis, one health, Serologic Tests, Geographic Mapping

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans, which makes it a significant public health concern worldwide. Dogs can play a crucial role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis by acting as mechanical vectors and sentinel for environmental contamination. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of T. gondii in dogs from Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Blood samples from 602 dogs from different areas of Ourinhos municipality were collected during the rabies vaccination campaign. Information about the age, gender, breed of the dogs, and residential address of each tutor were collected. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed to evaluate the presence of antibodies against the parasite, while the spatial analysis was used to evaluate regions associated with seropositivity. Results: In total, 23.7% (143/602) of the samples tested positive, with no significant association observed between gender, age, or breed. Spatial analysis revealed a high concentration of positive cases in the municipality's most peripheral neighborhoods. Conclusions: These results indicate that dogs in Ourinhos, SP, Brazil, are exposed to T. gondii, and that peripheral neighborhoods likely have higher environmental contamination."

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Seroepidemiology and spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil

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