SEROLOGIC INQUIRY OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN SHEEP IN NORTHERN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Toxoplasmosis is a serious zoonosis and widespread parasitic disease. A serologic inquiry in Santo Antonio do Tauá and Santa Izabel do Pará counties in the Castanhal Microregion, state of Pará, Northern Brazil, demonstratedahighfrequency,(44.29%) ofanti-Toxoplasmagondii antibodies detected by indirect hemaglutination test, with a distribution at titers 1:64, 1:128, 1:256, 1:512, 1:1024 and 1:2048 of, respectively, 50 (32.26%), 42 (27.10%), 29 (18.70%), 11 (7.10%), 12 (7.74%) and 11(7.10%). A statistically significant difference was observed between the 0 up to 2 and > 2 age groups in both sexes (?2 = 13.42, p = 0.0002) with a greater frequency in the > 2 years age group, (58.71%), and between the sexes (?2 = 23.51, p = 0.0001) with a greater frequency in females, (72.26%). Although the two counties presented similar frequencies (49.33% and 40.50% for Santa Izabel do Pará and Santo Antonio do Tauá, respectively) no association was observed between them. Sanitary surveillance measures are recommended to prevent health risks to humans and animals.

摘要 弓形虫病（Toxoplasmosis）是一种严重的人畜共患病及广泛流行的寄生虫病。本研究针对巴西北部帕拉州卡斯塔尔微区域的桑托安东尼奥杜陶阿（Santo Antonio do Tauá）与圣伊莎贝尔杜帕拉（Santa Izabel do Pará）两县开展血清学调查，采用间接血凝试验（indirect hemagglutination test）检测抗弓形虫抗体，结果显示总感染率为44.29%；抗体滴度分布为1:64、1:128、1:256、1:512、1:1024及1:2048，对应例数及占比分别为50例（32.26%）、42例（27.10%）、29例（18.70%）、11例（7.10%）、12例（7.74%）及11例（7.10%）。统计学分析显示，两性群体中0~2岁与＞2岁年龄组的感染率均存在显著差异（χ²=13.42，p=0.0002），＞2岁组感染率更高（58.71%）；不同性别间感染率亦存在显著差异（χ²=23.51，p=0.0001），女性感染率更高（72.26%）。尽管两县感染率相近（圣伊莎贝尔杜帕拉为49.33%，桑托安东尼奥杜陶阿为40.50%），但未观察到两县与感染率间存在关联。建议采取卫生监测措施，以防控人畜健康风险。