Molecular epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in riverine population from Lábrea, Amazonas, Brazil

• Grant number: 10/12371-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2011
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Luís Marcelo Aranha Camargo
• Grantee: Luís Marcelo Aranha Camargo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Thomé da Silva de Almeida ; Gilberto Fontes ; Hilda Fátima de Jesus Pena ; Marcelo Bahia Labruna ; Ricardo de Godoi Mattos Ferreira ; Sergio de Almeida Basano ; Solange Maria Gennari ; Viviane Krominski Graça de Souza

Abstract

This study will be carried out in a typical Amazonian population (riverine poplation from Lábrea, Amazonas state) with scarce information about toxoplasmosis. Human beings and animals that live around riverine dwelings will be survied for the presence af antibodies against T. gondii. Strains of T. gondii will also be isolated from free-range chickens. This population, in special, has a close relation with domestic animals and use water from the river to drink and to cook, mostly during the rainy season, suggesting a high contamination rate. Recente information about Brazilian T. gondii strains are discrepant with studies carried out around the world. (AU)