Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections and factors associated in goats in the Parana state, Southern Brazil.
Paulo Roberto RomanelliAndressa Maria Rorato Nascimento de MatosFernanda Pinto-FerreiraEloiza Teles CaldartJuliana Silva de OliveiraGabriela AnteveliBrenda Caroline Dos Santos JeanfeliceRafael Luiz StolfTainá Favoreto SanchesMariana Kassab E SilvaAlessandro Pelegrine MinhoAntônio Cezar Rocha CavalcanteRoberta Lemos FreireRegina Mitsuka-BreganóItalmar Teodorico NavarroPublished in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria (2020)
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and their associated factors among goats in farms from the Paraná state, South Brazil. The serological analysis was performed by indirect ELISA on 629 goat serum samples collected from 32 farms distributed in five mesorregions from the state. Seropositivity was observed in 30.7% of the animals for T. gondii, 6.3% for N. caninum, and 3.0% for both agents. Final multiple regression models showed that the use of assisted reproduction decreased the chance of seropositivity for T. gondii (PR=0.70) and the slaughtering site on the farm (PR=2.03) increased it. To N. caninum, the supplying concentrated feed to animals (OR=4.80) and animal pre-weaning death (OR=9.96) increased the chance of seropositivity. The variables associated with these seropositivities suggest deficiencies in sanitation and reproductive management. In addition, it recognizes critical points of infection for animal production management.