Prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplama gondii em avestruzes (Struthio camelus) de criatórios comerciais no estado de São Paulo

A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose cosmopolita causada pelo protozoário Toxoplasma gondii, podendo acometer mamíferos e aves. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em avestruzes de criatórios comerciais do Estado de São Paulo, como forma de auxiliar no conhecimento do comportamento e importância do parasito nesta espécie animal. Foram colhidas 195 amostras de soro de avestruzes (Struthio camelus), provenientes de Sorocaba, Campinas, São Carlos, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Vale do Ribeira, Botucatu e São José do Rio Preto, estado de São Paulo. As amostras foram analisadas pela Técnica de Aglutinação Direta Modificada (MAT), para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii. Os exames sorológicos revelaram 14,36% de animais sororreagentes ao T. gondii. A titulação mínima considerada foi a diluição maior ou igual a 1:16, e a maior diluição encontrada foi 1:16384. Não foi constatada diferença significativa entre os sexos. Apenas duas regiões (São Paulo e São José do Rio Preto) não apresentaram animais sororreagentes. Esses resultados salientam a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado sobre a infecção em avestruzes, e também sobre práticas de manejo que venham a minimizar os riscos de transmissão da toxoplasmose para essas aves e, por conseqüência, para o consumidor final.Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that may infect mammals and birds. The aim of the present study was to measure the prevalence of T. gondii in ostriches (Struthio camelus) from commercial farms of São Paulo State, as a way to help in the knowledge and importance of the parasite in this animal specie. 195 serum samples were collected from ostriches proceeding from Sorocaba, Campinas, São Carlos, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Vale do Ribeira, Botucatu e São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State. These samples were tested using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) to the investigation of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. This search detected 14,36% seropositive animals to Toxoplasma gondii. The minimum titration considered was the larger dilution or same to the 1:16, and the higher dilution was 1:16384. It was not found any significant statistical difference between males and females. In only two regions (São Paulo and São José do Rio Preto), there was no seropositive animals. Those results point out the importance of a study more deepened about this infection in ostriches, and about management practices that could minimize the toxoplasmosis transmission risks to these birds and, by consequence, to the final consumer.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in ostriches (Struthio camelus) from commercial breeding facilities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is widespread zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii,a protozoan that may infect mammals and birds. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of T. gondii in ostriches (Struthio camelus) from commercial breeding facilities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in a way to increase the knowledge on the behavior and importance of the parasite in this animal species. A total of 195 serum samples were collected from ostriches from Sorocaba, Campinas, São Carlos, Aracatuba, São Paulo, Vale do Ribeira, Botucatu and sao Jose do Rio Preto, in the state of São Paulo. These samples were analyzed by means of the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) in order to investigate the occurrence of Toxoplasmagondii antibodies. The test showed that 14.36% of the animals were seropositive to Toxoplasmagondii. Minimum titer was considered to be equal or greater than 1:16, and the greatest dilution observed was 1:16,384. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females. Seronegative animals occurred in only two regions (São Paulo and Sao Jose do Rio Preto). These results point out the importance of further studies on this infection in ostriches, and on management practices that may minimize the risk of toxoplasmosis transmission in these birds which would, in their turn, decrease the risk for the final consumer