Animal Health Department, University of Cordoba - Agrifood Excellence International Campus (ceiA3), Cordoba, Spain.
FDA, CFSAN, OARSA, DVA, Laurel, MD, United States.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 Aug;65:54-57. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.04.002. Epub 2019 Apr 16.
Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite, which can affect most warm-blooded species. Some species of non-human primates (NHPs) are highly susceptible to T. gondii infection. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in NHPs housed in zoos in Spain. Sera from 189 NHPs belonging to 33 species were collected in eight zoos. Additionally, 10 of the 189 animals were longitudinally sampled. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 48 NHPs (25.4%; confidence interval of 95% (CI): 19.2-31.6) using a modified agglutination test (MAT; cut-off = 25). Seropositive animals had titers of 25 (6.3%), 50 (8.3%), 100 (8.3%) and ≥500 (68.8%). Seropositivity was detected in 15 of the 33 species (45.5%). Of the 10 NHPs sampled more than once, two animals (one Barbary macaque [Macaca sylvanus] and one common chimpanzee [Pan toglodytes]) seroconverted along the study period, while one seropositive chimpanzee increased antibody titers over time. The Hominidae family (OR = 5.9; CI: 2.7-12.8) and sex (females) (OR = 2.1; CI: 1.1-4.1) were risk factors potentially associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. Our results evince a widespread circulation of T. gondii in NHPs in zoos in Spain, which may be of conservation concern. Control measures should be implemented to minimize the risk of exposure of these species to T. gondii.
刚地弓形虫是一种广泛分布的动物源性原虫寄生虫，可感染大多数温血动物。某些种类的非人类灵长类动物（NHPs）极易感染刚地弓形虫。本研究旨在确定西班牙动物园中饲养的 NHPs 感染刚地弓形虫的血清流行率和相关风险因素。从八个动物园的 33 个物种中采集了 189 只 NHPs 的血清。此外，对其中的 10 只动物进行了纵向采样。使用改良凝集试验（MAT；截断值=25）检测到 48 只 NHPs（25.4%；95%置信区间（CI）：19.2-31.6）存在抗刚地弓形虫抗体。阳性动物的滴度为 25（6.3%）、50（8.3%）、100（8.3%）和≥500（68.8%）。在 33 个物种中的 15 个物种中检测到了阳性（45.5%）。在 10 次以上采样的 10 只 NHPs 中，有两只动物（一只巴巴里猕猴（Macaca sylvanus）和一只普通黑猩猩（Pan troglodytes））在研究期间发生了血清转化，而一只阳性黑猩猩的抗体滴度随时间增加。人科（OR=5.9；CI：2.7-12.8）和性别（雌性）（OR=2.1；CI：1.1-4.1）是与刚地弓形虫血清阳性相关的潜在风险因素。我们的结果表明，西班牙动物园中的 NHPs 中存在广泛的刚地弓形虫循环，这可能引起保护关注。应采取控制措施，最大限度地降低这些物种接触刚地弓形虫的风险。
