Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. antibodies in household and shelter dogs in the municipality of Arapiraca, Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil

IF 1.4 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-07-03 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101310

Carolina Ferreira de Oliveira , Pedro Levi Nascimento Oliveira , Jussara Nayanne dos Santos Nascimento , Fagner D'ambroso Fernandes , Davi Dayan Assenheimer , Fernanda Silveira Flores Vogel , Jonatas Campos de Almeida

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Domestic dogs are considered effective sentinels for zoonotic diseases due to their abundance, ecological ubiquity, and frequent exposure to pathogens through scavenging and carnivorous behaviors. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. and to investigate potential infection risk factors in household and shelter dogs in Arapiraca, a semi-arid municipality in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 292 serum samples were analyzed, comprising 142 from shelter dogs and 150 from household dogs. The Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) was used for serological testing, with cut-off titers of ≥1:16 for T. gondii and ≥ 1:40 for Leishmania spp. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 5.8 % (17/292) of the dogs, with a higher frequency in shelter dogs 8.4 % (12/142) compared to household dogs at 3.3 % (5/150). For Leishmania spp., 9.2 % (27/292) of the animals tested seropositive: 11.2 % (16/142) in shelter dogs and 7.3 % in household dogs (11/150). None of the seropositive animals presented clinical signs of disease. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant associations between seropositivity and the evaluated variables. These findings highlight the role of dogs as silent reservoirs and sentinels for zoonotic pathogens, reinforcing the need for active surveillance strategies, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable and ecologically sensitive areas. The results also suggest that canine serological monitoring may serve as a useful indicator of environmental risk for human exposure to toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis.

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巴西东北部阿拉戈斯阿拉皮拉卡市家庭和收容所狗体内抗刚地弓形虫和利什曼原虫抗体

家犬被认为是人畜共患疾病的有效哨兵，因为它们数量丰富，生态无处不在，并且经常通过食腐和食肉行为暴露于病原体。本研究旨在确定巴西东北部半干旱城市阿拉皮拉卡家庭和收容所狗中弓形虫和利什曼原虫抗体的血清阳性率，并调查潜在感染风险因素。总共分析了292份血清样本，其中142份来自收容所的狗，150份来自家庭的狗。采用间接免疫荧光法（IFA）进行血清学检测，检测弓形虫的截止效价≥1:16，利什曼原虫的截止效价≥1:40,5.8%（17/292）犬检测到弓形虫抗体，其中收容所犬检测到弓形虫抗体的比例为8.4%(12/142)，高于家庭犬的3.3%（5/150）。对于利什曼原虫，9.2%（27/292）的动物血清检测呈阳性：收容犬为11.2%(16/142)，家养犬为7.3%（11/150）。血清阳性的动物均未出现疾病的临床症状。统计分析没有显示血清阳性与评估变量之间的显著关联。这些发现突出了犬类作为人畜共患病原体沉默的储藏库和哨兵的作用，加强了主动监测战略的必要性，特别是在社会经济脆弱和生态敏感地区。结果还表明，犬血清学监测可以作为人类接触弓形虫病和利什曼病的环境风险的有用指标。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).