Situação epidemiológica das infecções por Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. e Toxoplasma gondii em equídeos na microrregião do brejo paraibano

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the epidemiological situation of infection by Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in equids in Brejo Paraibano microregion, Northeastern Brazil. Antibodies against these agents were investigated in 257 samples from equids (204 horses, 46 mules and seven donkeys) in 26 properties. For serological diagnosis of infection by Brucella spp., Rose Bengal Test (RBT) was used. For serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. Infection, it was used the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), using 24 pathogenic serovars of Leptospira spp. as antigens, and a cut-off of 1:100. For serological diagnosis of infection by T. gondii, it was used the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and a cut-off of 1:64. Regarding Brucella spp., no sample was positive in RBT. The number of foci of infection by Leptospira spp. found was 76.9%. The prevalence of infection for Leptospira spp. was 15.9% (C.I. 11.7-21.0). The number of foci of infection by T. gondii was found to be 46.1%. In the samples analyzed, the overall prevalence of infection by T. gondii was 7.8% (C.I. 4.8-8.8). Regarding species, it was observed a prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection of 16.2% (horses), 13.0% (mules) and 28.6% (donkeys). The prevalence of infection by T. gondii was 8.3% (C.I. 4.9-13.0) for horses, 2.2% (C.I. 0.1-11.5) for mules and 28.6% (C.I. 3.7-71.0) among donkeys. Regarding infection for Leptospira spp., age was identified as a protective factor, where animals aged between 2.5 and 11 years had a risk of infection 0.4 times lower than those with less than 2.5 years (OR 0.4; C.I. 0.18-0.90). In relation to T. gondii, in logistic regression of variables, it was observed that the water source was a risk factor, because in those properties that supplied running water to the animals the risk of infection was 4.4 times higher than in those properties that provided standing water (OR 4.4; C.I. 1.0-19.0). This is the first epidemiological study in Brejo Paraibano microregion that analyzed infections by Brucella spp., Leptospira spp. and T. gondii in equids. To reduce the risk of infection, good quality water should be given to the animals, as well as access of cats, rodents and other animals to water sources and facilities where animals are kept must be avoided. Based on the results, it is concluded that the animals are exposed to sources of infection of Leptospira spp. and T. gondii, and a high number of outbreaks has been found widely distributed in the microregion. Health care should be reinforced especially in properties with more animals.