Received: October 31, 2007.

Accepted: June 4, 2008.

Abstract published online: June 13, 2008.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2008.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS FOR CANINE TOXOPLASMOSIS IN A DEPRIVED DISTRICT OF BOTUCATU, SP, BRAZIL

CAMOSSI LG (1), FACCIOLI PY (1), MENOZZI BD (1), DAHER SR (2),

LANGONI H (1)

(1) Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Department of Pediatrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii that can infect a large variety of animals, including humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of anti-T.gondii antibodies in dogs from a peripheral district of Botucatu and to establish the association among some epidemiological variables in order to evaluate risk factors for toxoplasmosis infection. Serum samples from dogs were screened using an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Anti-T.gondii antibody prevalence was 56%. The highest titer was 1024 (1.79%) and the most frequent titers were 16 (57.14%) and 64 (33.93%). The chi-square (X2) test revealed significant association among variables such as dog access to street, ingestion of raw meat and presence of synantropic animals in the domestic environment. These results demonstrate that toxoplasmosis is present in dogs from Jardim Santa Elisa district.

KEY WORDS: Toxoplasma gondii, dogs, IFA, risk factors.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

LUCILENE GRANUZZIO CAMOSSI, Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, s/n, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. Email: camossi@fmvz.unesp.br.