title: Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. infections and risk factors for cats from Brazil.
abstract: The seroprevalence of infection by Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp. was detected through an indirect immunofluorescence in 70 cats from the Andradina Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Anti-T. gondii antibodies (titer >64) were detected in 15.7% (11/70) of animals, whereas positivity for N. caninum (titer 16) was not observed in any animal. Of the cats from urban and rural areas, 10.4% (5/48) and 27.2% (6/22) were positive for T. gondii, respectively. Breed, age, food, and contact with animals of other species were significant for considering the positivity for T. gondii (P ≤ 0.0001). Cats having access to streets (17.1%, 11/64), cats cohabiting with rats (19.6%, 10/51), and cats feeding on homemade food and raw milk (27.2%, 6/22) were positive for T. gondii. In addition, 4.2% (3/70) of the cats were positive for Leishmania spp. by ELISA technique and negative by IFAT without coinfection with T. gondii and Leishmania spp. There was no serological positivity against feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus. In conclusion, T. gondii infection in part of the feline population from Andradina is not linked to immunosuppressions or coinfections but probably to postnatal infection in association with the type of diet and presence of rats.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Campus de Araçatuba-SP, Rua Clóvis Pestana, 793, Araçatuba, 16050-680 São Paulo, Brazil. willianmarinho@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Willian Marinho Dourado
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Alessandro Francisco Talamini
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: do Amarante
authors.forename: Juliana de Carvalho
authors.initials: Jde C
authors.lastname: Apolinário
authors.forename: Natalia Marinho Dourado
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Valéria Marçal Felix
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Silvia Helena Venturoli
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Katia Denise Saraiva
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bresciani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001938:Brazil; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D017753:Ecosystem; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan