Toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and brucellosis in stray dogs housed at the shelter in Umuarama municipality, Paraná, Brazil

Background : Leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and brucellosis are diseases with worldwide distribution. Among stray dogs, these zoonoses are facilitated by direct contact with other animal species, by the habit of scavenging garbage and hunting in search of food, drinking standing water, smelling other animals' urine, licking female genitalia and the sexual act itself. The objective of this study was to detect antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii, anti-Leptospira spp., anti-Brucella canis and anti-Brucella abortus in stray dogs housed in shelters at Umuarama city, Paraná, Brazil. In order to detect toxoplasmosis, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed, agglutination microscopic (MAT) test for leptospirosis and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and buffered acidified antigen (BAA) tests for brucellosis. Results : Of the 175 serum samples analyzed, 70.85% were considered positive for toxoplasmosis by IFA, 20% by MAT for leptospirosis and 2.85% by AGID for Brucella canis. Conclusions : The serological results of this study showed that stray dogs housed at the private shelter are potential carriers of these three different zoonoses and contribute to the spread and maintenance of these etiologic agents in the urban area of Umuarama (PR), Brazil.背景：钩端螺旋体病、弓形虫病与布鲁氏菌病均为全球分布的人畜共患病。在流浪犬群中，此类人畜共患病的传播途径涵盖与其他动物直接接触、捡拾垃圾觅食或狩猎、饮用积水、嗅闻其他动物尿液、舔舐雌性生殖器以及交配行为本身。本研究旨在检测巴西巴拉那州乌穆阿鲁马市收容所内流浪犬体内的抗弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）、抗钩端螺旋体属（Leptospira spp.）、抗犬布鲁氏菌（Brucella canis）及抗流产布鲁氏菌（Brucella abortus）抗体。为检测弓形虫病，本研究采用间接免疫荧光试验（IFA）；针对钩端螺旋体病，采用显微凝集试验（MAT）；针对布鲁氏菌病，则采用琼脂凝胶免疫扩散试验（AGID）与酸化缓冲抗原（BAA）试验。结果：本次共分析175份血清样本，其中经IFA检测弓形虫病阳性率为70.85%，经MAT检测钩端螺旋体病阳性率为20%，经AGID检测犬布鲁氏菌阳性率为2.85%。结论：本研究的血清学结果显示，该私人收容所内的流浪犬是这三种人畜共患病的潜在携带者，并有助于这些病原微生物在巴西乌穆阿鲁马（PR）城区的传播与维持。