Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. in domestic donkeys from Portugal

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania infantum are zoonotic protozoal parasites. Serum samples were obtained from 186 donkeys (Equus africanus asinus) from Portugal and assessed for antibodies to T. gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT). For titration of antibodies to Leishmania spp. the direct agglutination test was used (DAT). Eleven donkeys were seropositive for T. gondii with titres of 20 (n = 7), 80 (n = 2), 640 (n = 1) and ≥ 2560 (n = 1). One donkey was seropositive for Leishmania spp. (titre of 800). Donkeys in Portugal are exposed to and can be infected with T. gondii and Leishmania spp.

摘要 刚地弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）与婴儿利什曼原虫（Leishmania infantum）均为人畜共患原生动物寄生虫。本研究采集了葡萄牙地区186头家驴（Equus africanus asinus）的血清样本，采用改良凝集试验（modified agglutination test, MAT）检测针对刚地弓形虫的抗体；针对利什曼原虫属（Leishmania spp.）抗体的滴度测定，则使用直接凝集试验（direct agglutination test, DAT）。结果显示，11头驴的刚地弓形虫血清学检测呈阳性，其抗体滴度分别为20（7例）、80（2例）、640（1例）及≥2560（1例）；另有1头驴的利什曼原虫属血清学检测呈阳性，抗体滴度为800。本研究表明，葡萄牙境内的家驴存在刚地弓形虫与利什曼原虫属的暴露风险，且可被这两种病原体感染。