title: Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from Itu Municipality, São Paulo.
abstract: Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the largest rodents found in South America. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in 170 free-living capybaras in a residential park area in Itu Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. Serum samples were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for T. gondii (IFAT ≥ 1:16) and N. caninum (IFAT ≥ 1:50). Among the 170 samples analyzed, 10% (17/170) and 0% (0/170) were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. This study confirms the widespread presence of T. gondii and reinforces the role of capybaras in the life cycle of this parasite. Capybaras may not be important as intermediate hosts of N. caninum in the studied environment.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana Aizawa Porto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Felipe da Silva
authors.initials: Fda S
authors.lastname: Krawczak
authors.affiliation: Associação Fazenda Vila Real de Itu, Itu, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Passos
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Bahia
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Hilda Fátima de Jesus
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan