title: Prevalence of antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Sarcocystis neurona, Besnoitia darlingi, and Neospora caninum in North American opossums, Didelphis virginiana, from southern Louisiana.
abstract: We examined the prevalence of antibodies to zoonotic protozoan parasites ( Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi) and protozoans of veterinary importance ( Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis neurona, and Besnoitia darlingi) in a population of North American opossums ( Didelphis virginiana) from Louisiana. Samples from 30 opossums were collected as part of a survey for T. cruzi in Louisiana. Frozen sera from these 30 opossums were examined using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) against in vitro-produced antigenic stages of these protozoans. Additionally, 24 of the 30 samples were examined using hemoculture, and all 30 were examined in the modified direct agglutination test (MAT) for antibodies to To. gondii. The prevalences of reactive IFAT samples were as follows: 60% for T. cruzi, 27% for To. gondii, 23% for E. cuniculi, 17% for S. neurona, 47% for B. darlingi, and 0% for N. caninum. Hemoculture revealed that 16 (67%) of 24 samples were positive for T. cruzi, compared to 18 of 30 (60%) by IFAT. The sensitivity and specificity for the IFAT compared to hemoculture was 100% for each. The modified direct agglutination test revealed that 9 (30%) of the 30 samples from opossums had antibodies to To. gondii , compared to 8 (27%) using the IFAT. The sensitivity and specificity of the IFAT compared to the MAT was 100% and 72%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0342, USA.
authors.forename: Alice E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Houk
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zajac
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D048293:Didelphis / Q000469:parasitology*; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000276:immunology; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D021745:Sarcocystidae / Q000276:immunology; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000276:immunology; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan