FREQUENCY OF ANTI-Toxoplasma gondii ANTIBODIES IN CAPRINE HERDS FORM THE MUNICIPALITY OF SÃO LUÍS, MA/BRAZIL

Abstract

he objective of this work was to assess the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii seropotive goat herds in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The detection of anti-T.gondii was performed by the serological indirect ELISA method (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The data were analyzed using Epi Info 3.5.1 and subjected to chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. From 92 sera tested, 34 (36.95%) were seropositive and 58 (63.05%) seronegative. From 10 properties of goat herds surveyed in the municipality of São Luís, MA, seropositivity was found in eight (80%) of them. Regarding the conditions of storage of food, from 24 properties considered poor, 14 (15.3%) were seropositive for T. gondii, with a significant association (p <0.05). Milk production also had significant association (p = 0.0478), and beef production presented significant percentage: from 19 animals, 11 (57.89) were seropositive. As regards the type of food, (14) 58.33% of seropositivity 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 the presence of the risk factor, then seropositivity and association (p <0.05) can be verified. No significant differences were observed in the frequency of T. gondii, related to gender and age of goats.

KEYWORDS: Frequency, goats, São Luís, (MA), Toxoplasma gondii.