Ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em caprinos do semiárido baiano / Occurrence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the Bahia semi-arid goats

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a frequência de anticorpos IgG específicos contra Toxoplasma gondii em caprinos pertencentes a algumas cidades do semiárido baiano, através do ELISA (ensaio imunoadsorvente ligado à enzima) indireto. Primeiramente, foi realizado um estudo piloto com 49 caprinos para comparar os resultados do ELISA com a RIFI (reação de imunofluorescência indireta) para detecção de anticorpos séricos contra T. gondii. Foram observados 30,6% (15/49) de soropositivos pelo ELISA, enquanto pela RIFI houve 40,8% (20/49) de caprinos reagentes. Desta maneira, o ELISA apresentou 70% de sensibilidade e 96,5% de especificidade. Em seguida, foram analisadas amostras de soros de caprinos provenientes das cidades de Casa Nova, Curaçá, Jaguarari, Juazeiro, Sento Sé e Uauá. Dentre os 375 animais avaliados, 25,1% apresentaram títulos de IgG positivos no ELISA para T. gondii. As fêmeas tiveram um risco 1,236 vezes maior de serem soropositivas em relação aos machos. Não houve relação entre idade e presença de anticorpos anti-T. gondii nestes animais. A cidade com maior número de caprinos soropositivos foi Sento Sé, com 46,4% (39/84) e a menor frequência foi observada em Juazeiro, com 3,6% (2/55). Os resultados deste estudo confirmam que a infecção pelo T. gondii é comum em caprinos brasileiros do estado da Bahia, inclusive na região de clima semiárido, considerada mais desfavorável à transmissão

The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of specific IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in goats belonging to some cities of Semi-Arid region of Bahia, by indirect ELISA (enzyme linked immunonosorbent assay). First, a pilot study was conducted with 49 goats to compare results from ELISA with those obtained by IFAT (indirect fluorescent antibody test) to detect serum antibodies against T. gondii. It was observed 30.6% (15/49) of seropositive by ELISA, while the IFAT showed 40.8% (20/49) reagents goats. Thus, ELISA showed 70% sensitivity and 96.5% specificity. Then, sera samples of goats from the cities Casa Nova, Curaçá, Jaguarari, Juazeiro, Sento Sé and Uauá were analyzed. Among the 375 evaluated animals, 25.1% had positive IgG titers in ELISA for T. gondii. Females have a 1.236 times higher risk of being seropositive compared to males. There was no correlation between age and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in these animals. The city with the biggest number of seropositive goats was Sento Sé, with 46.4% (39/84) and the lowest rate was observed in Juazeiro, with 3.6% (2/55). The results of this study confirm that T. gondii infection is common in goats from the semi-arid climate region of Bahia, which is considered adverse for transmission

Biological Effect of Leaf Aqueous Extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis in Goats Naturally Infected with Gastrointestinal Nematodes.

Forty-eight goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12): negative control (G1) (untreated), positive control (G2) (treated with doramectin, 1 mL/50 Kg b.w.), and G3 and G4 treated with 2.5 and 5 mg/Kg b.w. of a leaf aqueous extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis (CP). Fecal and blood samples were regularly collected for the evaluation of fecal egg count (FEC), hematological and immunological parameters to assess the anthelmintic activity. In treated animals with CP, there was noted a significant reduction of 54.6 and 71.2% in the mean FEC (P < 0.05). An increase in IgA levels was observed in G3 and G4 (P < 0.05), during the experimental period, suggesting that it was stimulated by the extract administration. In conclusion, the results showed that CP provoked a protective response in infected animals treated with them. This response could be partly explained by the CP chemical composition.