Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leptospira spp. antibodies in opossums (Didelphis spp.) in São Paulo State, Brazil

Authors

  • Mauricio Claudio Horta Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco
  • Alessandra Mara Alves Ragozo Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia
  • Renata Assis Casagrande Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Eliana Reiko Matushima Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Gisele Oliveira de Souza Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Zenaide Maria de Morais Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Silvio Arruda Vasconcellos Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal
  • Solange Maria Gennari Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2016.110381

Keywords:

Seroprevalence, Toxoplasmosis, Neosporosis, Leptospirosis, Opossum

Abstract

Opossum (Didelphis spp.) is an omnivorous marsupial native to the Americas that shows synanthropic behavior in urban areas. Despite its proximity to domestic animals and humans, knowledge of its participation in the epidemiology of some zoonotic agents is substantial. This study aimed to determine the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp. and Leptospira spp. in blood samples collected from opossums in 18 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2003 and 2008. Blood samples from 343 opossums: Didelphis aurita (n = 256) and Didelphis albiventris (n = 87) were obtained. These were tested to detect antibodies against T. gondii, using the modified agglutination test (MAT-Toto; cutoff ≥ 25); Neospora spp., using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT; cutoff ≥ 25); and Leptospira spp., using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT-Lepto; cutoff ≥ 100). Frequency of anti-T. gondii, Neospora spp. and Leptospira spp. antibodies were in 22.7%, 1.5% and 3.5%, respectively. The serogroups-serovars of Leptospira spp. presenting positive MAT-Lepto reactions were: Autumnalis-Butembo; Mini-Mini; Ballum-Castellonis; Icterohaemorrhagiae-Icterohaemorrhagiae; Icterohaemorrhagiae-Copenhageni and Grippotyphosa-Grippotyphosa or Bananal. This study demonstrated that these zoonotic agents are circulating in opossum populations in the state of São Paulo. Therefore, investigations regarding the role of marsupials in the epidemiology of each of these diseases should be conducted, especially to understand the behavior of these animals as zoonosis maintenance hosts. 

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Published

2016-08-31

How to Cite

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leptospira spp. antibodies in opossums (Didelphis spp.) in São Paulo State, Brazil. (2016). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 53(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2016.110381