title: Occurrence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil.
abstract: A serological survey was carried out to assess the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from the State of Pernambuco. A total of 625 serum samples of dogs (289 from Paulista, 168 from Amaraji and 168 from Garanhuns) were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody assay for the detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies. A total of 177 (28.3%; IC 95%, 24.9-32.1) samples were positive. The seropositivity rates found in Paulista, Amaraji and Garanhuns were 26% (IC 95%, 21-31.4), 26.2% (IC 95%, 19.7-33.5) and 34.5% (IC 95%, 27.4-42.2), respectively. Of the 177 serum samples positive to anti-N. caninum antibodies, 170 were additionally tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and out of these 57.6% (IC 95%, 49.8-65.2) were positive. The results indicate that dogs from Amaraji, Paulista and Garanhuns are exposed to both N. caninum and T. gondii infections. The presence of dogs infected by N. caninum in Pernambuco represents a potential risk factor for the occurrence of outbreaks of abortion in cattle and small ruminants in this state. This study is the largest serological survey on the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs carried out in Brazil and reports for the first time the exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs from Pernambuco.
authors: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. lucianaf@hotlink.com.br
authors: Luciana Aguiar
authors: LA
authors: Figueredo
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Dantas-Torres
authors: Eduardo Bento
authors: EB
authors: de Faria
authors: Luis Fernando Pita
authors: LF
authors: Gondim
authors: Lucilene
authors: L
authors: Simões-Mattos
authors: Sinval Pinto
authors: SP
authors: Brandão-Filho
authors: Rinaldo Aparecido
authors: RA
authors: Mota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan