Toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and brucellosis in stray dogs housed at the shelter in Umuarama municipality, Paraná, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Dreer,Márcia Küster de Paula
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Outros Autores: Gonçalves,Daniela Dib, Caetano,Isabel Cristina da Silva, Gerônimo,Edson, Menegas,Paulo Henrique, Bergo,Danilo, Lopes-Mori,Fabiana Maria Ruiz, Benitez,Aline, Freitas,Julio Cesar de, Evers,Fernanda, Navarro,Italmar Teodorico, Martins,Lisiane de Almeida
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: The Journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1678-91992013000100313
• topic: Leptospira spp; Brucella abortus; Brucella canis; Toxoplasma gondii; Zoonosis

Background : Leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and brucellosis are diseases with worldwide distribution. Among stray dogs, these zoonoses are facilitated by direct contact with other animal species, by the habit of scavenging garbage and hunting in search of food, drinking standing water, smelling other animals' urine, licking female genitalia and the sexual act itself. The objective of this study was to detect antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii, anti-Leptospira spp., anti-Brucella canis and anti-Brucella abortus in stray dogs housed in shelters at Umuarama city, Paraná, Brazil. In order to detect toxoplasmosis, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed, agglutination microscopic (MAT) test for leptospirosis and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and buffered acidified antigen (BAA) tests for brucellosis. Results : Of the 175 serum samples analyzed, 70.85% were considered positive for toxoplasmosis by IFA, 20% by MAT for leptospirosis and 2.85% by AGID for Brucella canis. Conclusions : The serological results of this study showed that stray dogs housed at the private shelter are potential carriers of these three different zoonoses and contribute to the spread and maintenance of these etiologic agents in the urban area of Umuarama (PR), Brazil.