Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leishmania spp. serology and Leishmania spp. PCR in dogs from Pirassununga, SP

Research Note Braz. J. Vet. Parasitol., Jaboticabal, v. 24, n. 4, p. 454-458, out.-dez. 2015 ISSN 0103-846X (Print) / ISSN 1984-2961 (Electronic) Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612015046 Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leishmania spp. serology and Leishmania spp. PCR in dogs from Pirassununga, SP Sorologia para Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum e Leishmania spp. e PCR para Leishmania spp. em cães de Pirassununga, SP Nathália Mendonça de Seabra1; Vanessa Figueredo Pereira2; Marcos Vinícius Kuwassaki1; Julia Cristina Benassi1; Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira1,2* Laboratório de Saúde Animal e Segurança Alimentar, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil 1 Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia Experimental Aplicada às Zoonoses, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil 2 Received January 6, 2015 Accepted March 24, 2015 Abstract We examined the presence of antibodies against the parasites Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leishmania spp., as well the presence of DNA from Leishmania spp., in dogs from Pirassununga - SP. The seropositivity rate was compared with the animals’ originating location. Three hundred seventy-three blood samples from the county’s kennel and local veterinary clinics were collected and analyzed. A total of 300 samples were tested for T. gondii and N. caninum using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT); 45% (135/300) were positive for T. gondii and 24.3% (73/300) were positive for N. caninum. Three hundred seventy-three samples were tested for Leishmania spp. using the IFAT. Of these, 4.6% (17/373) were positive. Additionally, 145 samples were tested using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR); of these samples, 0.7% (1/145) was positive. Considering the results, we conclude that these parasites are present in the city of Pirassununga - SP and that the animals have contact with the protozoan. It is therefore necessary to create methods for disease prevention to maintain both animal and human health in regard to leishmaniasis and toxoplasmosis. Keywords: IFAT, PCR, dogs, epidemiology, Leishmania spp., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii. Resumo Avaliou-se a presença de anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum e Leishmania spp.; assim como a presença de DNA de Leishmania spp. em cães de Pirassununga-SP, e associou-se sua soropositividade ao local de origem dos animais. Foram coletadas 373 amostras de sangue do canil municipal e de clínicas veterinárias locais, que foram analisadas pelo teste de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI). Do total, 300 amostras foram testadas para T. gondii e N. caninum, das quais 45% (135/300) foram positivas para T. gondii e 24,3% (73/300) para N. caninum. Para Leishmania spp. foram avaliadas 373 amostras pela RIFI, sendo 4,6% (17/373) positivas. Adicionalmente, 145 amostras foram testadas utilizando-se a PCR e, dessas amostras, 0,7% (1/145) foi positiva. Considerando-se os resultados, pode-se concluir que esses parasitos estão presentes na cidade de Pirassununga - SP e que os animais tiveram contato com os protozoários. Faz-se, dessa forma, necessária a divulgação de meios de prevenção às doenças, com o intuito de manter o controle sobre as mesmas, tanto na saúde animal quanto na saúde humana, em relação à leishmaniose e à toxoplasmose. Palavras-chave: RIFI, PCR, cães, epidemiologia, Leishmania spp., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii. *Corresponding author: Trícia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Oliveira. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo – USP, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil. e-mail: www.cbpv.org.br/rbpv v. 24, n. 4, out.-dez. 2015 Pathogenic protozoa in dogs from Pirassununga-SP Introduction Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are diseases caused by Apicomplexa obligate intracellular parasites (DUBEY et al., 2002). Toxoplasmosis is important to both animal and human health, and neosporosis is very important to animal health, as both diseases cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological and muscular symptoms (MINEO et al., 2001). Through the excretion of the oocysts eliminated in its feces, the domestic dog is the definitive host and source of infection for Neospora caninum. This parasite also negatively impacts cattle, causing abortion and a decline in reproductive performance resulting in economic loss (DE MORAES et al., 2008). The domestic dog is a toxoplasmosis intermediate host, infected by the ingestion of oocysts from cat feces and contaminated water, food, and soil or by carnivorism (TAYLOR et al., 2007). Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum (Syn. L. chagasi), which is considered to be one of the six most important tropical diseases in the world (WHO, 2010). VL is transmitted to humans and other animals by a vector’s bite, such as Lutzomyia longipalpis and L. cruzi sandflies in Brazil. The sandfly acquires the parasite after hematophagism of infected animals (SHAW, 2006). Domestic dogs are considered the primary animal reservoir hosts of the disease and perform an important role in the transfer of this disease to humans (MONTEIRO et al., 2005). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum and the presence of both, antibodies against Leishmania spp. and DNA from this parasite in dogs from Pirassununga-SP, and compared with the locations where the animals originated; county’s kennel or local veterinary clinics. With the expansion of VL and the increase in the number of cases and because of the significance of these parasites to public health and their associated economic losses, evaluating the presence of these parasites is of great importance. Materials and Methods Study area Pirassununga is located at a latitude of 21º59’46’’ South and a longitude of 47º25’33’’ West in São Paulo State, Brazil, and its altitude is 627 meters. The city has a high-altitude tropical climate. The rainy season occurs from October to March, and the city currently has 70,138 inhabitants (IBGE, 2013). The neighboring cities are Descalvado, Porto Ferreira, Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, Analândia, Santa Cruz da Conceição and Leme. Animals From August 2010 to July 2013, a total of 373 blood samples were collected from dogs. A convenience sampling method was used because the study aimed to describe the main characteristics of the studied groups. Three hundred animals were tested for the presence of anti-N. caninum and anti-T. gondii. Three hundred and 455 seventy three were tested against anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies by IFAT and 145 dogs were tested for leishmaniasis by PCR. These samples were obtained at Pirassununga’s kennel and the city’s veterinary clinics; 240 and 133 blood samples were (...truncated)