Eco-epidemiological study of infection and susceptibility of Brazilian neotropical primates to Toxoplasma gondii

• Grant number: 23/06923-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 08, 2024
• End date: May 11, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Grantee: Marina Pellegrino da Silva
• Supervisor: Irene Iglesias Martin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/08313-7 - Immunopathological Study of Toxoplasmosis in Neotropical Primates, BP.MS

Abstract

Neotropical primates are susceptible to infection by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, with differences in morbidity and mortality between species, potentially associated with their evolutionary history and ecology. The mega-diversity of the Brazilian fauna, including the great variety of primates, as well as the enormous diversity of parasites, with hundreds of different strains of T. gondii already identified, may represent a great potential for the emergence of infectious diseases and a threat to these primate populations. Little is known about the environmental and spatial factors that may favor the exposure of primates to T. gondii in the Brazilian territory, including those that have the potential to increase their risk of mortality. Thus, the present study aims to identify environmental and geographic factors associated with the risk of infection and susceptibility of neotropical primates to T. gondii. A retrospective study will be carried out using the database of neotropical primates received for health monitoring at the Pathology Center of Adolfo Lutz Institute, Brazil. Animals diagnosed with toxoplasmosis by immunohistochemistry and histopathology between the years 2015 to 2022 will be included. The environmental and intrinsic variables of the animals will be used to build association models, and geographic coordinate data will be used to create maps for spatial analysis, aiming to identify areas with higher risk of exposure and infection. With this analysis we aim to add an eco-epidemiological component to the ongoing Master project entitled "Immunopathological study of toxoplasmosis in Neotropical Primates" and, therefore, better understand different components linked to the susceptibility of Brazilian primates to toxoplasmosis. (AU)