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Spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in cows and associated risk factors

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of the prevalence of T. gondii in cows using the indirect immunofluorescence assay and determine associated risk factors. Serum samples were collected from 2970 cows on 263 rural farms in 223 municipalities. A questionnaire was administered to herd owners to collect data for the evaluation of risk factors associated with this disease. Mean seroprevalence of T. gondii in cows was 8.48% (95% CI: 7.48 to 9.49). The microregions with the greatest likelihood (p ≤ 0.05) of having infected animals were Anápolis, Ceres, São Miguel do Araguaia, the Federal District, Anicuns, and Vão do Paraná. The purchase of females or males for reproductive/breeding purposes was significantly associated (p ≤ 0.05) with the prevalence of T. gondii in these regions. A positive correlation (0.7618; p = 0.047) was found between the prevalence of T. gondii and total area in hectares of forests in these regions, suggesting that wild cats may be disseminating T. gondii at these sites. The present results highlight the importance of considering the meat from these animals to be an important infection route for humans who eat raw or undercooked food.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia – EVZ, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

    Larissa Alves, Weslen Teixeira, Felipe Krawczak & Welber Lopes

  2. Agência Goiana de Defesa Agropecuária – AGRODEFESA, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

    Larissa Alves, Vanessa Oliveira & Paula Brom

  3. Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública – IPTSP, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

    Jaqueline Lima, Jade Melo, Ana Maria de Castro & Welber Lopes

  4. Universidade Brasil – Campus de Descalvado, Descalvado, São Paulo, Brazil

    Vando Soares

  5. Centro Universitário Central Paulista (UNICEP) – Rua Miguel Petroni n.5111, CEP 13563-470, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Gabriel Rossi

  6. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Lorena Ferreira

  7. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista – Unesp, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil

    Breno Cruz, Gustavo Felippelli & Alvimar José da Costa

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  1. Larissa Alves
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  2. Jaqueline Lima
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Correspondence to Lorena Ferreira.

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Alves, L., Lima, J., Melo, J. et al. Spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in cows and associated risk factors. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 76 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02495-0

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