Estudo epidemiológico da infecção por Neospora caninum em ovinos no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil.

Abstract

Neospora caninum is a protozoan that causes neosporosis. It is involved in reproductive disorders in sheep and affects several species of domestic and wild animals. The objective of this research was to conduct an epidemiological study of infection with N. caninum in sheep in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. For it was developed two subprojects. In subproject 1 aimed to estimate the prevalence and spatial distribution of anti-N. caninum in sheeps using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in mesoregions the Agreste, São Francisco and Sertão Pernambucano, in the second subproject aimed to estimate the frequency of anti-N. caninum in pregnant ewes by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in slaughterhouses of the municipalities of Petrolina (São Francisco) and Gravatá (Agreste) and check the frequency of N. caninum in ovine fetuses collected at abattoirs in the State of Pernambuco using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In subproject 1 was used 416 sheep of 13 properties. The technique used for the detection of antibodies was considering the IFAT cutoff 1:50. There was a prevalence of 12.9 % (55/426) of sheep seropositive for N. caninum. Seropositive animals was observed in 53.8 % (7/13) of the farms and 58 % (7/12) of the 12 cities surveyed. The three mesoregions studied showed foci of seropositive animals at a frequency of 40 % (2/5) properties from the mesoregion of São Francisco, 50 % (2/4) of the properties of the Sertão and 75 % (3/4) of the Agreste. In the second sub-project the techniques used for the detection of antibodies against the agent was IFAT and direct detection agent PCR. Of the 103 pregnant females tested in the IFAT only two (1,94 %) had antibodies to N. caninum, one of the city of Petrolina and another in the city of Gravatá. After IFAT was carried PCR tissues (brain, heart, liver, and spleen diaphragm) belonging to the female fetal positive finding for the presence of the agent in the DNA of fetal Petrolina coming from the slaughterhouse. Antibodies were detected in more than half of the municipalities and properties surveyed and in all mesoregions studied. There is need for more studies in this species to know the real impact of the agent.