Cross-sectional survey for toxoplasmosis in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from the Atlantic Forest area in Alagoas state, Northeastern Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, which is prevalent across the world and has a strong environmental component in its transmission chain. The present study determined the seroprevalence and factors related to Toxoplasma gondii infection among free-range chickens from an Atlantic Forest area in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 550 free-range chickens were tested for T. gondii antibodies usingthe indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cut-off point 1:16), and 269 (48.9%; 95% CI = 44.7-53.1%) were positive. Among the 61 properties 57 (93.4%) had at least one seropositive animal. The robust Poisson regression model showed that the variables/categories associated with the seroprevalence of T. gondii were: region of origin of the animals/urban area (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.346; P<0.001), management system/use of cages (PR = 1.591; P = 0.019), presence of rodents/yes (PR = 1.295; P = 0.035), and the type of food/use of food scraps (PR = 1.603; P = 0.009). The high prevalence found suggest that this scenario demands careful management, mainly regarding the use of scraps of undercooked or raw food, adequate environmental hygiene and frequent rodentcontrol.

Cross-sectional survey for toxoplasmosis in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from the Atlantic Forest area in Alagoas state, Northeastern Brazil / Estudo transversal para toxoplasmose em galinhas caipiras (Gallus gallus domesticus) de área de Mata Atlântica do estado de Alagoas, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, which is prevalent across the world and has a strong environmental component in its transmission chain. The present study determined the seroprevalence and factors related to Toxoplasma gondii infection among free-range chickens from an Atlantic Forest area in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 550 free-range chickens were tested for T. gondii antibodies usingthe indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cut-off point 1:16), and 269 (48.9%; 95% CI = 44.7-53.1%) were positive. Among the 61 properties 57 (93.4%) had at least one seropositive animal. The robust Poisson regression model showed that the variables/categories associated with the seroprevalence of T. gondii were: region of origin of the animals/urban area (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.346; P<0.001), management system/use of cages (PR = 1.591; P = 0.019), presence of rodents/yes (PR = 1.295; P = 0.035), and the type of food/use of food scraps (PR = 1.603; P = 0.009). The high prevalence found suggest that this scenario demands careful management, mainly regarding the use of scraps of undercooked or raw food, adequate environmental hygiene and frequent rodentcontrol.

Resumo A toxoplasmose é uma doença parasitária mundial com um forte componente ambiental em sua cadeia de transmissão. Nesta pesquisa, foram determinados a soroprevalência e os fatores associados em galinhas caipiras de uma área de Mata Atlântica no Nordeste do Brasil. Um total de 550 galinhas caipiras foi testado para anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii pela reação de imunfluorescência indireta (RIFI) com ponto de corte de 1:16, e 269 (48,9%; IC95% = 44,7- 53,1%) foram positivas. Das 61 propriedades visitadas, 57 (93,4%) apresentaram pelo menos um animal positivo. O modelo de regressão de Poisson robusta mostrou que as variáveis/categorias associadas à soroprevalência de T. gondii foram: origem dos animais/área urbana (razão de prevalência - RP = 2,346; P<0,001), sistema de manejo/uso de gaiolas (RP = 1,591; P = 0,019), presença de roedores/sim (RP = 1,295; P = 0,035), e tipo de alimento/uso de sobras de alimentos (RP = 1,603; P = 0,009). A alta prevalência sugereque este cenário demanda cuidados de manejo, principalmente no que se refere ao fornecimento de sobras de alimentos mal cozidos ou crus, higiene adequada do meio ambiente e controle frequente de roedores.

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia sp. in aquatic mammals in northern and northeastern Brazil.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are protozoans that can infect humans and wild and domestic animals. Due to the growing importance of diseases caused by protozoan parasites in aquatic species, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia sp. in aquatic and marine mammals in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil. We collected 553 fecal samples from 15 species of wild-ranging and captive aquatic mammals in northern and northeastern Brazil. All samples were analyzed by the Kinyoun technique for identification of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Giardia sp. cysts were identified by means of the centrifugal-flotation technique in zinc sulfate solution. Subsequently, all samples were submitted for direct immunofluorescence testing. The overall frequency of infection was 15.55% (86/553) for Cryptosporidium spp. and 9.04% (50/553) for Giardia sp. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in samples from 5 species: neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (15.28%), giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis (41.66%), Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis (9.67%), Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis (16.03%), and Antillean manatee T. manatus (13.79%). Giardia sp. was identified in L. longicaudis (9.23%), P. brasiliensis (29.16%), pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps (100%), dwarf sperm whale K. sima (25%), S. guianensis (9.67%), T. inunguis (3.81%), and T. manatus (10.34%). This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. in L. longicaudis, P. brasiliensis, and S. guianensis, while the occurrence of Giardia sp., in addition to the 2 otter species, was also identified in manatees, thus extending the number of hosts susceptible to these parasitic agents.

LEISHMANIA SPP. IN DIDELPHIS SPP. FROM NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL.

The synanthropic behavior of marsupials of the genus Didelphis in endemic areas of leishmaniasis suggests that these animals may play an important role in the epidemiology of this infection. The aim of the present study was to detect Leishmania spp. DNA in Didelphis albiventris (white-eared opossum) and Didelphis aurita (big-eared opossum) living in forested and peridomestic areas of northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 25 animals (23 D. albiventris and 2 D. aurita ) by cardiac puncture and then analyzed via PCR. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis DNA complex was detected in 4 (16%) of the 25 samples, whereas no samples scored positive for Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani complex. Our data suggest that D. albiventris participates in the wild enzootic cycle of the L. (V.) braziliensis complex. Therefore, humans living in this area are at risk of infection, because Didelphis species are in constant movement between wild and urban environments.