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Year 2016 - Volume 36, Number 10
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Epidemiological study and evaluation of risk factors for infection with Toxoplasma gondii and clinical and pathological findings of acute infection in dogs admitted at a Veterinary School Hospital, 36(10):993-998
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ABSTRACT.- Strital A.D., Igarashi M., Muraro L.S., Aguiar D.M., Pacheco T.A., Garcia J.L., Freitas S.H. & Amude A.M. 2016. [Epidemiological study and evaluation of risk factors for infection with Toxoplasma gondii and clinical and pathological findings of acute infection in dogs admitted at a Veterinary School Hospital.] Estudo epidemiológico e avaliação de fatores de risco da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii e achados clinico-patológicos da infecção aguda em cães admitidos em um Hospital Escola Veterinário. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(10):993-998. Departamento de Ciências Básicas em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil E-mail: michelle.igarashi@gmail.com
We aimed to verify the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs addimitted at the hospital. We also assessed the occurrence rates and the clinical and pathological repercussion of the acute infection by T. gondii in these animals. Antibodies were detected in 7% (26/386) of a population of 386 dogs of both genders and different breeds and ages. Only variables, eating offal, rural origin and contact with cattle have significant values of p<0.05. Dogs from rural areas showed higher risk (OD=7.00) of infection than those of urban origin. In 6.5% (25/386) contact titles were detected (between 16 and 256); these titles do not necessarily mean acute infection, but only prior exposure. The recognition of prior infection by T. gondii is vital in those hospital patients. Depending on the cause of admission, although not being toxoplasmosis the responsible, the patient should receive prophylactic anti-parasite treatment or be monitored for further treatment in case of further acute occurrence of the disease by recrudescence of encysted bradyzoites. Only one dog (3:44%, 1/386) was admitted with high titer, what may be suggestive of acute infection (title of 4096). Although the dog with acute infection has shown neurological signs, caution is required not to extrapolate a false interpretation that toxoplasmosis is the main responsible for neurological signs, since numerous other cases included in this study had neurological signs without title of acute infection, even title of prior contact. Acute toxoplasmosis was not a significant clinic disease in this hospital; however differential diagnosis should be made in ill patients, especially those from rural areas, and definitive diagnosis must be reached for the correct therapeutic approach. |
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