Applied Parasitology Laboratory, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, MA-230, KM 04, s/n° - Boa Vista, 65500-000 Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil.
Laboratory of Animal Health, Federal Institute of Maranhão, Campus São Luís-Maracanã, Avenida dos Curiós, s/n° - Vila Esperança, 65095-460 São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Jan;27:100661. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100661. Epub 2021 Nov 9.
The aim of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil, and identify risk factors associated with infection. In total, 338 buffaloes of different ages and both sexes from four farms were randomly selected. Information about the study region, animals and management was collected using an epidemiological questionnaire. Sera were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to detect anti-N caninum antibodies, while N. caninum DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in buffaloes was 27.5% (93/338), while DNA was detected in 3.0% (3/101) samples. The proportion of positive animals detected by IFAT and PCR simultaneously was 2.6% (2/77). The risk factors for N. caninum infection were contact with fomites (p = 0.022), management conditions (p = 0.005), calving interval of 20 months (p = 0.010) and deworming management (application 3 times a year in adults and calves, p = 0.020; change of anthelmintic group, p = 0.040). By multivariate analysis, management conditions was a risk factor for N. caninum infection with odds ratio of 2.2 (95% CI 1.0-4.6). This is the first report of the prevalence and risk factors for neosporosis in B. bubalis of Maranhão State, Brazil. Thus, N. caninum is widely distributed in buffalo herds in Maranhão, with management conditions being a risk factor for infection. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the importance of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Maranhão State.
本研究旨在调查巴西马拉尼昂州水牛（Bubalus bubalis）中刚地弓形虫的血清流行率，并确定与感染相关的风险因素。从四个农场中随机选择了 338 头不同年龄和性别的水牛。使用流行病学问卷收集有关研究区域、动物和管理的信息。采集血清进行间接荧光抗体试验（IFAT）以检测抗刚地弓形虫抗体，同时使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测刚地弓形虫 DNA。水牛的总刚地弓形虫血清流行率为 27.5%（93/338），而 DNA 检测阳性率为 3.0%（3/101）。IFAT 和 PCR 同时检测出的阳性动物比例为 2.6%（2/77）。刚地弓形虫感染的风险因素包括接触污染物（p=0.022）、管理条件（p=0.005）、产犊间隔 20 个月（p=0.010）和驱虫管理（成年牛和犊牛每年应用 3 次，p=0.020；驱虫药组改变，p=0.040）。多因素分析显示，管理条件是刚地弓形虫感染的危险因素，比值比为 2.2（95%CI 1.0-4.6）。这是巴西马拉尼昂州水牛中刚地弓形虫感染的流行率和风险因素的首次报道。因此，刚地弓形虫在马拉尼昂州的水牛群中广泛分布，管理条件是感染的危险因素。应进一步开展研究，以阐明水牛在马拉尼昂州刚地弓形虫病流行病学中的重要性。
