Neospora caninum e Toxoplasma gondii em tecido cerebral de raposa-do-campo (Pseudalopex vetulus) no estado da Paraíba, Brasil

Abstract

The hoary fox (Pseudalopex vetulus), in the past called Dusicyon (Lycalopex) vetulus or just Lycalopex vetulus, is a wild canid native of Brazil and commonly found in the semiarid northeastern area living in contact with cattle. Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are protozoa belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, and despite phylogenetic differences, biological, structural, and antigenic, they are closely related to each other, and in the past considered a single species. Studies have demonstrated the occurrence of T. gondii and N. caninum in domestic and wild canids, showing that some of these animals as well as intermediate hosts stand as definitive hosts. In the present study, we used brain tissue samples from 49 hoary fox (Pseudalopex vetulus) found dead in the countryside roads of Paraíba. These samples were processed for extraction of genetic material and then subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for T. gondii and N. caninum. Was observed in 14.3% and 12.2% of animals the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum respectively and the molecular identity of the amplified products was confirmed by sequencing. This work concluded that the hoary fox (P. vetulus) is an intermediate host of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, but more studies are needed in this area to observe the involvement of this species in the wild and domestic cycle of these parasites.