Ciência Animal Brasileira (Oct 2010)
FREQUÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS ANTI-Toxoplasma gondii EM REBANHOS CAPRINOS DO MUNICÍPIO DE SÃO LUÍS, MA
Abstract
The objective of this work was to assess the frequency ofToxoplasma gondii seropotive goat herds in the municipality ofSão Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The detection of anti-T.gondii wasperformed by the serological indirect ELISA method (EnzymeLinked Immunosorbent Assay). The data were analyzed using EpiInfo 3.5.1 and subjected to chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. From92 sera tested, 34 (36.95%) were seropositive and 58 (63.05%)seronegative. From 10 properties of goat herds surveyed in themunicipality of São Luís, MA, seropositivity was found in eight(80%) of them. Regarding the conditions of storage of food, from24 properties considered poor, 14 (15.3%) were seropositive forT. gondii, with a significant association (p <0.05). Milk productionalso had significant association (p = 0.0478), and beef productionpresented significant percentage: from 19 animals, 11 (57.89)were seropositive. As regards the type of food, (14) 58.33% ofseropositivity was verified within the animals fed forage (p <0.05).The aborted material is also a relevant factor found in this study,considering none of the producers gave the appropriate destination for this material. This behavior does not often eliminate thepresence of the risk factor, then seropositivity and association (p<0.05) can be verified. No significant differences were observed inthe frequency of T. gondii, related to gender and age of goats.
