Soroprevalência de anticorpos para Toxoplasma gondii em suínos e características epidemiológicas de estabelecimentos de criação industrial e artesanal da região de Pelotas-RS

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an intracellular obligate coccidian protozoa. The study of the prevalence of this parasite in swine shows a great economical importance, since this infection may cause abortion, growing retardation and neonatal mortality, and also for the epidemiological aspect related to the human infection caused by the ingestion of swine meet. The aims of this study are to evaluate the toxoplasmosis prevalence in the swines in the region of Pelotas-RS and to compare the prevalence among the industrial and family farms creations, serums of swines were qualified and quantified to establish the presence of antibodies IgG antiT.gondii by the techniques of Indirect Hemoaglutination (IH) and Indirect Immunofluorescence (IFA). 195 serums from slaughterhouse were analyzed by IH and IFA and the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii found was 9,2% and 13,9% by respectively, which indicates the swine meet as an important pathway of infection by Toxoplasma gondii to humans and other animals, in the region of Pelotas-RS. The both techniques, IH and IFA were carried out to determinate the prevalences between the industrial and family farms creations, by the IH the prevalence was 10,7% and 8,6%, respectively and by the IFA 33,9% and 5,8%. For representing a great risk of infection by the Toxoplasma gondii for the consumers, the family farms creations, must be considered, as a priority for the public measures that deal with orientation and sanitary surveillance. Between the two techniques used, the Indirect Immunofluorescence showed a highest sensibility than the Indirect Hemoaglutination. The Kappa value of concordance between the two techniques was 0,025%. The presence of cats was observed near the feeding bowls, which represents an infection factor for the swines. A lack of information about this zoonosis among the swine producers in the region where the study was performed was also observed. The results obtained indicate the swine meet consume as an infection pathway by Toxoplasma gondii to the local population.