Vitaliano S N, Silva D A O, Mineo T W P, Ferreira R A, Bevilacqua E, Mineo J R
Laboratório de Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará 1720, Campus Umuarama, 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Vet Parasitol. 2004 Aug 6;122(4):253-60. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.04.004.
The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum in captive maned wolves from Brazil, considering that little information is available at the literature about infections by these parasites in this wild animal. Serum samples were obtained from 59 maned wolves originated from six zoos and from one ecological reserve of the southeastern and midwestern regions of Brazil. To detect IgG antibodies against T. gondii, an ELISA protocol was used and the results were expressed as ELISA reactivity indexes (EI). Serology for N. caninum was carried out by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and cut-off titers were established at 1:25 dilution. From the total of the analyzed samples, 44 (74.6%) were seropositive for T. gondii and only 5 (8.5%) for N. caninum. Seropositivity for T. gondii ranged from 0 to 100% in the seven different origin locals, with rates over 50% among the six zoos, whereas no positivity was found in the samples from ecological reserve. For N. caninum, seroprevalence varied from 0 to 50% in the different locals, with the highest rates also detected in zoos. Seroprevalence for T. gondii was strongly related with age, with rates significantly higher among adult wolves (91.7%) when compared to newborn or young animals. Seropositive samples for N. caninum were found predominantly in adult wolves. For both parasites, seroprevalence did not show a significant distinction in relation to gender. Although seroprevalence for T. gondii was significantly higher when compared to N. caninum in the Brazilian captive maned wolves tested, these findings reflect the great exposure of this species to T. gondii and, in lower extension, to N. caninum. Also, the present study demonstrated for the first time the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in wild life from South America.
本研究的主要目的是调查巴西圈养鬃狼体内抗刚地弓形虫和犬新孢子虫抗体的发生情况，因为关于这些寄生虫在这种野生动物中的感染情况，文献中提供的信息很少。血清样本取自59只鬃狼，它们来自巴西东南部和中西部地区的六个动物园及一个生态保护区。为检测抗刚地弓形虫的IgG抗体，采用了酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）方案，结果以ELISA反应指数（EI）表示。犬新孢子虫的血清学检测通过间接荧光抗体试验（IFAT）进行，截断滴度设定为1:25稀释度。在所有分析样本中，44份（74.6%）对刚地弓形虫呈血清阳性，而对犬新孢子虫呈血清阳性的仅有5份（8.5%）。刚地弓形虫的血清阳性率在七个不同来源地中从0到100%不等，六个动物园中的阳性率超过50%，而生态保护区的样本中未发现阳性。对于犬新孢子虫，不同地点的血清阳性率从0到50%不等，最高阳性率也在动物园中检测到。刚地弓形虫的血清阳性率与年龄密切相关，成年狼（91.7%）的阳性率显著高于新生或幼年动物。犬新孢子虫血清阳性样本主要在成年狼中发现。对于这两种寄生虫，血清阳性率在性别方面没有显著差异。尽管在测试的巴西圈养鬃狼中，刚地弓形虫的血清阳性率显著高于犬新孢子虫，但这些发现反映出该物种对刚地弓形虫的高度暴露以及对犬新孢子虫较低程度的暴露。此外，本研究首次证明了南美洲野生动物体内存在抗犬新孢子虫抗体。
