Seroepidemiology of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. among horses in the south of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Manoel Junqueira Maciel, Rosa, Marina Helena Figueredo, Bruhn, Fábio Raphael Pascoti, Garcia, Adriana de Mello, Rocha, Christiane Maria Barcellos Magalhães da, Guimarães, Antônio Marcos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil 07-06-2016
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Brazil - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - epidemiology; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect - veterinary; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - microbiology; Horse Diseases - parasitology; Horses; Neospora; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis - epidemiology; Sarcocystosis - veterinary; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1984-2961

The present study used the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to determine the seroprevalence of Sarcocystis neurona, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp., and evaluated the variables associated with these infections among 506 apparently healthy horses, reared in the south of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study was conducted between April 2012 and October 2013. Among the horses, the true prevalence of S. neurona was 26% (95% CI: 22.0-30.4%), T. gondii 19.9% (95% CI: 15.5-24.8%) and Neospora spp. 23.9% (95% CI: 19.9-28.1%); and among the farms, 88.3% (95% CI: 74.4-91.6%), 71.6% (95% CI: 41-92.8%) and 85% (95% CI: 70.7-96.1%), respectively. Regarding mixed infection, 17 horses (3.4%) were seropositive for both S. neurona and T. gondii, 16 (3.2%) for T. gondii and Neospora spp. and 14 (2.8%) for S. neurona and Neospora spp. The associations between seropositivity and variables relating to the structure of the farm, management and health were analyzed using the logistic regression analysis, through the generalized estimating equations (GEE). The results suggest that the south of Minas Gerais is an enzootic area for S. neurona, T. gondii and Neospora spp. among horses, with prevalence of asymptomatic subclinical or chronic infections.