title: Horses seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora spp.: Possible risk factors for infection in Brazil.
abstract: Many parasitic diseases are considered asymptomatic, even though some studies have shown that they may cause pathological changes in the host. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp. and Sarcocystis spp. in horses, and to identify the risk factors for disease. For this, 174 horses were studied, 90 males and 84 females aged between two and 20 years old. Blood samples were collected and stored in tubes without anticoagulant to obtain serum, which was subjected to serological tests for T. gondii, Sarcocystis spp., and Neospora spp. using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). IFA results were as follows: Sarcocystis spp. 41.37% (72/174) (CI95%-34.05-49.09); T. gondii 32.18% (56/174) (CI95%-25.42-39.74) and Neospora spp. 48.27% (84/174) (CI95%-40.68.50-55.93). Out of 174 horses, 81 had simple infection, 61 had mixed infections with two or three of these pathogens, and therefore, only 32 horses showed no antibodies to any of these pathogens. No risk factors for Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii infection were identified. However, there was a significant (1.22-CI95%-1.02-1.52) relationship between animal age and Neospora spp. infection, since older animals showed higher prevalence. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that T. gondii and Neospora spp. affect horses in Southern Brazil, however all the animals studied were asymptomatic without reproductive, neurological or locomotor problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chrystian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cazarotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balzan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rhayana K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Grosskopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jhonatan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boito
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Portella
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Graduate Program - UDESC, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juscivete F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fávero
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Animal Science Graduate Program - UDESC, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de C Cucco
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Graduate Program - UDESC, Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angelisa H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Biazus
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil; Animal Science Graduate Program - UDESC, Chapecó, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000276:immunology; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Antibodies; Equine; Pathogenesis; Protozoa