Seroepidemiology of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis in equines in the northwest region of Paraná

Abstract

Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are diseases that may affect man and domestic and wild animals. They also have wide geographical distributions and thus cause large public health issues. The objective of the current study was to conduct leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis seroepidemiology in horses used for animal traction in small rural propertiesof the municipality of Umuarama, in northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 312 horses from 87 small farms. Microscopic agglutination tests (MAT) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis were performed on sera to detect leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis, respectively. These were performed in conjunction with an epidemiological questionnaire. The MAT results included 180 (57.69%) samples that were considered reactive with titers between 100 and 12800 for one or more serovars. Thirty-three (10.57%) samples subjected to IIF were considered reactive, with titers ranging between 64 and 1024. From the analyzed variables, contact with wild animals (p= 0.012) and animal exchange between properties (p = 0.004) were associated with toxoplasma infection. The study revealed that horses in the northwestern region of Paraná were exposed to Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, with an insignificant implication of the animals’ clinical condition; however, since it is possible for animals to transmit infection to other animals as well as humans via the intermittent shedding of leptospires through urine into the environment, it may be considered a problem of one health. As for the presence of T. gondii antibodies, these horses played the role of sentinel of the infection. Environmental sanitation measures, serological studies of herds, control of rodents and felids on properties, and the dissemination of information about these diseases are relevant for disease control at the study site.