Detection of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in chickens from Amazon Region

• Grant number: 17/24848-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: March 01, 2018
• End date until: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Solange Maria Gennari
• Grantee: Leandro Emidio Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/11530-6 - Epidemiologycal aspects of Toxoplasma gondii from domestic and wild animals from Amazon fauna, AP.TEM

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoan (Filo Apicomplexa), an obligate intracellular parasite and has the capacity to infect a wide variety of mammals and birds (domestic and wild), including man, characterizing its zoonotic potential. Neospora caninum is an Apicomplexa protozoan that causes neuromuscular disease in dogs and miscarriages in cattle, possessing a wide variety of hosts. In contrast to the scarce number of studies on N. caninum in birds, there are many studies about T. gondii infection in several species. The free-living hens are efficient intermediate hosts of T. gondii and are considered good indicators of soil contamination by this parasite due to its food habit. In relation to N. caninum, the potential of chickens to function as intermediate hosts is still debatable. The present work aims to detect the presence of serum antibodies against T.gondii and N. caninum, and to isolate T. gondii from tissues, in hens from the Amazon region of Brazil. Samples of hens from different localities, totaling 10 municipalities and five states of the Amazon region: Acre (AC), Amazonas (AM), Roraima (RR), Pará (PA) and Amapá (AP), Tabatinga AM, Rio Branco (AC), Tefé (AM), Manaus (AM), Boa Vista (RR), Parintins (AM), Santarém (PA), Macapá (AP), Afuá, Marajó Island (PA) and Soure , Marajó Island (PA) will be collected. The sera obtained will be analyzed by the Modified Agglutination Test and the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFA) for the detection of antibodies anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum, respectively. For the isolation of T. gondii will be performed the peptic digestion of the tissues (brain and heart) and subsequent inoculation in mice. With the results of this research it will be possible to determine the occurrence of these protozoa in hens from the Amazon region. The isolates obtained will be used as support for genotypic characterization studies and genetic studies of populations of T. gondii in the Amazon region. (AU)