title: Characterization of the zoonotic potential of Toxoplasma gondii in horses from Rio de Janeiro State.
abstract: The aim of this study was to perform a survey on the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in horses from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. From 2012 to 2013, a total of 624 blood samples were collected from horses from the eight regions comprising Rio de Janeiro State (Baixadas Litorâneas, Serrana, Norte Fluminense, Noroeste Fluminense, Centro-Sul, Metropolitana, Médio Paraíba, and Costa Verde). All sera samples were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies by performing the modified agglutination test with a cut-off of 1:25. Positive serology for T. gondii was detected in 22.8% (142/624) of the horses studied. Seropositivity was detected in all regions sampled; furthermore, statistical significance was observed when all locations were compared at once. The Médio Paraíba region had the highest number of positive animals 54.76% (23/42) in the Bonferroni correction among Costa Verde, Centro Sul, Metropolitana, and Serrana (p<0.001). Seropositivity was 39.58% (38/96) in Norte Fluminense, which was the second most prevalent region. The results indicated that the T. gondii parasite is widely distributed in horses in Rio de Janeiro State and represents a risk to public and animal health. These findings emphasize the need to increase control and prevention of this disease in horses.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária (Clínica e Reprodução Animal), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andressa F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edwards
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frazão-Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco C R
authors.initials: FCR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária (Clínica e Reprodução Animal), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Consalter
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária (Clínica e Reprodução Animal), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe G F
authors.initials: FGF
authors.lastname: Padilha
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz M
authors.initials: ABM
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária (Clínica e Reprodução Animal), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil; Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil. Electronic address: anatopatovet@vm.uff.br.
authors.forename: Ana M Reis
authors.initials: AMR
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Horses; MAT; Serology; Toxoplasmosis