title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Veracruz State, Mexico and its association with climatic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection with Toxoplasma gondii in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is of epidemiological importance because of the risk for transmission to humans. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in 339 water buffaloes in Veracruz State, Mexico using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut off 1:25). Seroprevalence association with general characteristics of buffaloes and their environment was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 165 (48.7%) of the 339 buffaloes with MAT titers of 1:25 in 104, 1:50 in 52, and 1:100 in 9. Bivariate analysis showed that seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was similar in buffaloes regardless of their general characteristics i.e., age, sex, and breed. In contrast, the seroprevalence in buffaloes varied significantly with environmental characteristics including altitude, mean annual temperature, and mean annual rainfall of the municipalities studied. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity in buffaloes was associated with a mean annual rainfall between 1266-1650 mm (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.15-2.94; P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that environmental characteristics may influence the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in buffaloes. This is the first report on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in buffaloes in Mexico. Further research is needed to assess the risk for infection in humans associated with the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat from buffaloes infected with T. gondii.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Esquivel
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romero-Salas
authors.forename: Zeferino
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: García-Vázquez
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz-Romero
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peniche-Cardeña
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibarra-Priego
authors.forename: Mariel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Domínguez
authors.forename: Adalberto A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pérez-de-León
authors.forename: Jitender P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002020:Buffaloes; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan