Toxoplasma gondii in domiciled dogs and cats in urban areas of Brazil: risk factors and spatial distribution

• Published in: Parasite (Paris) Vol. 28; p. 56
• Main Authors: Arruda, Igor Falco, Millar, Patricia Riddell, Barbosa, Alynne da Silva, Abboud, Luiz Claudio de Souza, Dos Reis, Izabel Cristina, Moreira, Alex Sander da Cruz, Guimarães, Mariana Pedrosa de Paula, Amendoeira, Maria Regina Reis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France EDP Sciences 2021
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan; Brazil - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cats; Cities - epidemiology; companion animals; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dogs; Epidemiology; Evaluation; Fluorescence; Fluorescent antibody test; Food consumption; Frequency dependence; Health risks; Humans; Immunofluorescence; Immunoglobulin G; Indirect fluorescent antibody test; Infections; Metropolitan areas; Parasites; Pets; Populations; Protozoa; Public health; Questionnaires; rio de janeiro metropolitan region; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serology; Spatial analysis; Spatial distribution; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Urban areas; Urban populations; Zoonoses; Brazil; Cities; Rio de Janeiro Brazil; Companion animals; Serology; Toxoplasmosis; Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region
• ISSN: 1776-1042; 1252-607X; 1776-1042
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2021049

Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent zoonotic parasite in Brazil capable of infecting mammals and birds. The increase in the urban populations of pets and the narrowing of the human-animal relationship can facilitate the transmission of important public health zoonoses, such as toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and spatial distribution of T. gondii infection and its risk factors in domiciled dogs and cats attended at the Jorge Vaitsman Institute, Rio de Janeiro. Serum samples from 400 dogs and 272 cats were evaluated by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. Epidemiological questionnaires were used to interview the animals' owners to identify risk factors for infection. Of the total, 34% (136/400) of dogs and 8.1% (22/272) of cats had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Breed (OR: 2.10-95%, CI 1.27-3.46) was a risk factor for dogs, while sex (OR: 3.40-95%, CI 1.10-10.52) and homemade food consumption (OR: 8.49-95%, CI 2.48-29.05) were risk factors for cats. Offal consumption was considered a risk factor for both species evaluated (OR: 2.74-95%, CI 1.38-5.43 for dogs; OR: 7.66-95%, CI 1.24-47.29 for cats). The spatial analysis showed that T. gondii seropositive animals were widely distributed in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro state, with a concentration observed mainly in the west and north zones of Rio de Janeiro city. The results emphasize the importance of adopting prophylactic measures to control T. gondii transmission in domiciled dogs and cats in Rio de Janeiro, contributing positively to public health.