EVALUATION OF CANINE TOXOPLASMOSIS SEROPREVALENCE IN ANIMALS FROM GREATER VITÓRIA-ES

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, and dogs, despite intermediate hosts, participate in the epidemiological chain of transmission, both to other animals and humans. As an epidemiological surveillance activity, a serological research was carried out for antibodies of the IgG class anti-Toxoplasma gondii in serum samples obtained from 150 dogs, from January to March 2022, belonging to the serum bank of the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory, of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of  UVV, Vila Velha-ES. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT-IgG) was used, evaluating the results in relation to the titers obtained, age, and gender. Sixteen (10.66%) of the samples were positive, with variable titers between 16 and 256, 15 (93.75%) with title 16, 11 (68.75%) 64, and three (18.75%) 256. Regarding gender, of the 16 positive animals, nine (56.25%) were females, and seven (43.75%) were males. Related to age, positive animals ranged from three to 15 years, and animals with higher titles were between 10 and 12 years old. It is concluded that despite the low seroprevalence, T. gondii dispersion occurs in the studied region and that surveillance measures should be established to control infection and disease in the canine and human populations.