title: Zoonoses in humans from small rural properties in Jataizinho, Parana, Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to conduct a serological survey for Lyme diseases, brucellosis, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis and identify the risk variables related to these zoonoses in humans living in the rural area of Jataizinho, state of Parana, Brazil. A total of 63 rural properties were surveyed. Additionally, 207 serum samples collected from these rural area inhabitants were tested for indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and western blots (WB) were performed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato); a tamponated acidified antigen test (AAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) were used to detect antibodies of Brucella abortus; the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out to detect antibodies anti-Leptospira spp. and IFI was used to find antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii. Two of the samples (0.96%) were reactive for Lyme borreliosis, three (1.4%) for brucellosis, 25 (12.1%) for leptospirosis and 143 (69.1%) for toxoplasmosis. Although the town of Jataizinho has a human development index (IDH) that was considered to be average (0.733) in the state of Parana, the low social, economic and cultural conditions of the population from small rural properties have resulted in lack of basic information on animal health and direct or indirect contact with the various species of domestic animals, wildlife and ticks have probably contributed to the prevalence levels found. These results show the need for additional regional studies in order to determine the epidemiological characteristics of these diseases as well as their respective vectors and reservoirs so that effective prophylaxis can be administered in the human population.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Dib
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Fabiana Maria Ruiz
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lopes-Mori
authors.forename: Lucimara Aparecida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Roberta Lemos
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Italmar Teodorico
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida Zanella
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Luís Roberto Alves
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carreira
authors.forename: Maria Luísa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Freitas
keywords: Lyme disease; antibody; brucellosis; human; leptospirosis; toxoplasmosis