Affiliation:
1. Centro de Estudos Superiores de Maceió
2. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Goats are considered very susceptible to infection by Toxoplasma gondii and when this occurs during pregnancy, it may cause fetal death with subsequent fetal resorption, abortion, mummification, stillborn or the birth of weak goats. The objective of this work was to determine the occurrence of and identify risk factors for T. gondii infection in goats in different mesoregions in the State of Alagoas. METHODS: The research was conducted on 24 goat breeding farms in 10 municipalities. A total of 454 blood samples were examined for anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. To evaluate the risk factors of toxoplasmosis in goats, questionnaires were applied analyzing the farm's production system and nutritional, reproductive and sanitary management. RESULTS: Disease occurrence was 39% with 95.8% of farms presenting seropositive animals. Significant associations were observed for mesoregion (OR = 0.23; 95%CI = 0.09 - 0.57), age (OR = 0.36; 95%CI = 0.20 - 0.64), semi-intensive herd management (OR = 8.70; 95%CI = 1.87 - 40.43), access of cats to water provided for goats (OR = 3.38; 95%CI = 1.89-6.02) and cats feeding on placental remnants (OR = 2.73; 95%CI = 1.38 - 5.40). CONCLUSIONS: Toxoplasma gondii infection is disseminated in the State of Alagoas and the adoption of a program that monitors infection foci is required to reduce the risk factors identified in the present study.
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Microbiology (medical),Parasitology
Reference33 articles.
1. Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans;Tenter AM;Int J Parasitol,2000
2. Low seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in feral pigs from a remote island lacking cats;Dubey JP;J Parasitol,1997
3. Lesions in transplacentally induced toxoplasmosis in goats;Dubey JP;Am J Vet Res,1988
4. Effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the development of pregnancy and on endocrine foetal-placental function in the goat;Engeland IV;Vet Parasitol,1996
5. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dairy goats from 1982 to 1984;Dubey JP;J Am Vet Med Assoc,1990
Cited by
24 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献