Authors: Sara Lima Santos Kattyanne de Souza Costa Leane Queiroz Gondim Mariana Sampaio Anares da Silva Rosângela Soares Uzêda Kiyoko AbeSandes Luís Fernando Pita Gondim
Publish Date: 2009/11/27
Volume: 106, Issue: 2, Pages: 457-
Abstract
Neospora caninum Hammondia sp and Toxoplasma gondii are parasites with morphological and genetic similarities N caninum and T gondii are important abortive agents of cattle and sheep respectively and may infect numerous animal species Hammondia sp is not known to induce disease in animals but may cause confusion in the identification of closely related coccidia The aim of this study was to investigate infection rates caused by N caninum Hammondia sp and T gondii in beef cattle using a nested PCR for Toxoplasmatinae rDNA followed by sequencing of the PCR products Antibodies to N caninum and T gondii were also investigated in the tested animals Brains and hearts were obtained from 100 beef cattle in a slaughterhouse in Bahia Seven samples from brain tested positive for Toxoplasmatinae DNA No positive reactions were found in heart tissues After sequencing of the PCR products from all positive tissues five sequences matched with N caninum and two matched with T gondii Antibodies to N caninum and T gondii were found in 20 and 26 of the animals respectively The confirmation of N caninum and the absence of Hammondia heydorni in the tested animals is suggestive that cattle are not efficient intermediate hosts of H heydorni however further studies need to be performed using a greater variety of tissues and a higher sample size The detection of T gondii DNA in bovine tissues reinforces the potential risk of transmission of this parasite to humans and other animals through the consumption of bovine meatThis work has been supported by a research grant from CNPq Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico of Brazil Sara L Santos was recipient of a fellowship from FAPESB Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia Luís FP Gondim was recipient of a productivity fellowship from CNPq Brazil
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