Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among turkeys on family farms in the state of Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in turkeys and chickens on family farms in the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. In order to do so, 204 sera samples from turkeys were analyzed using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) and 322 sera samples from chickens were assessed using the Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA). Twenty-eight properties contained turkeys and 23 of these properties also contained chickens. The relative frequency of positive turkeys was 11% (21/204), with 46.6% (13/28) of the properties containing at least one positive turkey. The frequency of positive chickens was 25.8% (83/322), with 95.6% (22/23) of the properties containing at least one positive chicken. Based on the results of the present study, it was possible to conclude that turkeys can serve as an indicator of environmental contamination by oocysts of T. gondii. However, they are less effective than chickens bred in the same conditions. The increasing demand from consumers for naturally produced products should worry local sanitary authorities due to the high prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii found in this type of rearing system, particularly among chickens.

Occurrence and risk factors assessment associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in chickens in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil / Ocorrência e fatores de riscos associados à infecção por Mycoplasma gallisepticum em galinhas na região Semiárida do estado de Pernambuco

The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection and risk factors of this disease in three hundred serum samples from on 23 familiar agricultural properties in the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. ELISA was used to study antibodies anti-Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The univariate analysis (chi-squared test or Fischer's exact test) followed by multivariate analysis (logistic regression) were used to assess the risk factors with two variables: management and sanity of the poultry. It was detected a frequence of 53.33% (157/300) of the birds were positive for MG, with 100% foci. The risk factors confirmed by multivariate analysis, in the present study, were the presence of other poultry species on the property, including Numida meleagris (OR=2.22; p=0.005), parrots (OR=1.72; p=0.027), and of passerines (OR=1.88; p=0.007). These results showed that Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection is endemic among backyard poultry in the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco. These birds could be a source of infection for other wild or domestic poultry. . This is the first report of the occurrence of avian mycoplasmosis in backyard poultry in the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil. The risk factors identified should serve as a parameter for the health authorities to seek solutions related to controlling the disease.

Objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de infecção por Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) e os fatores de risco dessa doença em trezentas amostras de soro sanguíneo de galinhas domésticas em 23 propriedades da agricultura familiar na região semiárida do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Para a pesquisa de anticorpos contra Mycoplasma gallisepticum utilizou-se o Ensaio Imunoenzimático (ELISA). A análise univariada (Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fischer) seguida pela análise multivariada (Regressão Logística) foram utilizadas para avaliar os fatores de risco com duas variáveis: manejo e sanidade das aves. Foi detectada uma frequência de 53,33% (157/300) de aves soropositivas para MG com 100% de focos. Os fatores de risco confirmados na análise multivariada, neste estudo, foram a criação de outras espécies de aves na propriedade como Numida meleagris(OR=2,22; p=0,005), criação de diferentes espécies de psitacídeos (OR=1,72; p=0,027) e a criação de passeriformes (OR=1,88; p=0,007). Estes resultados demonstram que a infecção por Mycoplasma gallisepticum é endêmica entre galinhas de criação doméstica na região semiárida do estado de Pernambuco. Estas aves podem atuar como fonte de infecção para outras aves silvestres e domésticas. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de micoplasmose aviária em galinhas de criação doméstica no estado de Pernambuco, nordeste do Brasil. Os fatores de risco identificados devem servir como um parâmetro para as autoridades sanitárias buscarem soluções de controle da doença.

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and parasite DNA in raw milk of sheep and goats of local breeds reared in Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in raw milk samples of goats and sheep of local breeds from the semi-arid region of the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Serum and milk samples were collected from 243 animals (186 goats and 57 sheep). The Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to search for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies with a cutoff of 64. Subsequently, the raw milk samples were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR to detect DNA of T. gondii. The IFAT results showed a 6.58% (16/243) positivity when all the samples were considered and a positivity of 15.78% (9/57) and 3.76% (7/186) for goats and sheep samples, respectively. The PCR assay detected T. gondii DNA in 2.06% (5/243) of all the samples tested. All the PCR positive samples were from goats. This result shows the importance of adopting measures of flock's sanitary management and avoiding the consumption of raw milk may constitute a potential risk to the health of milk consumers in this region.