Canine neosporosis: Detection of sera antibodies in rural and urban canine population of Chile
Canine neosporosis: Detection of sera antibodies in rural and urban canine population of Chile
Authors
Patitucci, A.N.
Pérez, M.J.
Rozas, M.A.
Israel, K.F.
Pérez, M.J.
Rozas, M.A.
Israel, K.F.
Authors
Date
2012-02-24
Datos de publicación:
10.4067/S0301-732X2001000200011
Keywords
Neospora caninum - Perros - Zorros
Collections
Abstract
Neospora caninum es un protozoo parásito cuya infección se ha reportado en vacunos, caninos y otras especies en diversas partes del mundo. Los perros actúan como huéspedes definitivos e intermediario a la vez. En esta especie la enfermedad se caracteriza por paresia y/o parálisis de los miembros posteriores y puede ser fatal tanto en cachorros infectados transplacentariamente como en adultos. En Chile, no existe información sobre Neospora en caninos pero se ha demostrado la presencia de anticuerpos contra el protozoo en bovinos, por tal motivo se propuso la identificación de la infección mediante la detección de anticuerpos séricos contra N. caninum en perros. Se estudiaron 201 sueros caninos de diferentes edades, sexo, raza, ambiente ("rural" vs. "urbano") y tipo de alimentación ("carne cruda" vs. "no cruda") en una dilución 1:50 mediante la técnica de Inmuno Fluorescencia Indirecta (IFA). Del total de perros estudiados, el 18% (36/201) presentó anticuerpos contra N. caninum. Además se demostró asociación entre la cantidad de positivos y el ambiente y con el tipo de alimentación; no obstante, no hubo relación con el sexo, raza y edad. Los resultados indican que el pertenecer al ambiente rural y/o consumir carne cruda pueden ser importantes factores de riesgo dentro de la epidemiología de la infección por N.caninum. Complementariamente se procesaron dos sueros de zorros (Pseudolapex fulvipes) mediante la técnica del Aglutinación de taquizoitos de Neospora (NAT) que resultaron positivos hasta la máxima dilución analizada (1:320), demostrando que los animales estaban infectados al momento de la toma de muestra y abriendo interrogantes en la epidemiología de la enfermedad a nivel local.
Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite whose infection has been detected in canine, bovine and others species around the world. In Chile, the presence of the disease has been already demonstrated in cows of the IX Region of the country. In the present study we investigated the presence of antibodies against N. caninum in dog sera. Blood samples of 201 dogs were taken from different local veterinary clinics and in rural areas of IX Region of the country, data about the dog sex, age, breed, "rural" or "urban" habitat and if they consume or not "raw meat" was collected. The 18% (36/201) of the studied animals had 1:50 dilution IFA test antibodies. There was difference in the amount of positives between rural 26% (21/81) and urban 12,5% (34/120) dog populations (OR=2,45). Only in 68% (136/201) of the cases, it was possible to determine the dog s feed, and there was also difference in the seropositives between "raw meat" (29,5%; 21/71) vs. "no raw meat" (7%; 9/65) (OR = 2,613). There were no differences by sex, breed and age. A Neospora Aglutination Test (NAT) in two sera of Chiloe s fox (Pseudolapex fulvipes) were positive (1:320), these animals are native of Chile but they were owned by a local zoo. This study shows that dogs of IX Region of Chile were infected with N. caninum, and although limited, the results suggest that the canine rural population and/or those fed with raw meat have more risk of being infected. On the other hand the positivity of the two studied foxes open interesting questions about their potential role as diffusers of the disease.
Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite whose infection has been detected in canine, bovine and others species around the world. In Chile, the presence of the disease has been already demonstrated in cows of the IX Region of the country. In the present study we investigated the presence of antibodies against N. caninum in dog sera. Blood samples of 201 dogs were taken from different local veterinary clinics and in rural areas of IX Region of the country, data about the dog sex, age, breed, "rural" or "urban" habitat and if they consume or not "raw meat" was collected. The 18% (36/201) of the studied animals had 1:50 dilution IFA test antibodies. There was difference in the amount of positives between rural 26% (21/81) and urban 12,5% (34/120) dog populations (OR=2,45). Only in 68% (136/201) of the cases, it was possible to determine the dog s feed, and there was also difference in the seropositives between "raw meat" (29,5%; 21/71) vs. "no raw meat" (7%; 9/65) (OR = 2,613). There were no differences by sex, breed and age. A Neospora Aglutination Test (NAT) in two sera of Chiloe s fox (Pseudolapex fulvipes) were positive (1:320), these animals are native of Chile but they were owned by a local zoo. This study shows that dogs of IX Region of Chile were infected with N. caninum, and although limited, the results suggest that the canine rural population and/or those fed with raw meat have more risk of being infected. On the other hand the positivity of the two studied foxes open interesting questions about their potential role as diffusers of the disease.