Banca de DEFESA: LEONELA BAZAN

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : LEONELA BAZAN
DATE: 16/08/2023
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: REMOTO
TITLE:

Factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908) and its spatial distribution in domestic dogs in vulnerable urban environments in Salvador, Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis; Dogs; Vulnerable communities; Brazil

PAGES: 49
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUBÁREA: Ecologia Aplicada
SUMMARY:

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of zoonotic relevance, acting at the interface of birds and mammals, including humans. Dogs have been used as sentinels to estimate T. gondii infection in the environment due to their behavior and proximity to people. However, there is still a lack of information about environmental variables associated with this parasite in vulnerable communities. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate which demographic and environmental factors are associated with the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic dogs and the spatial distribution in vulnerable neighborhoods of Salvador, Brazil. This study was carried out in the Marechal Rondon (MR) and Pau da Lima (PDL) neighborhoods between October 2021 and February 2023 where serum samples were collected from domestic dogs and eco-epidemiological questionnaires were applied to their tutors. Antibody detection was performed using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFI) with a cut-off point of 1:50. Samples were collected from 173 dogs in MR and 115 in PDL. The seroprevalence in MR was 30.6% and in PDL it was 47.0%. Using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) we identified that dogs with mixed feeding have 50% less chance of being exposed to T. gondii compared to those fed only with homemade food, while those fed only with commercial food have 80% less chance. Also, in PDL it was twice as high as in MR and, finally, the probability of exposure could increase in senile animals and decrease in puppies and juveniles compared to adults. The spatial distribution shows regions of high density of seropositive individuals and titers. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic dogs demonstrates contact with the parasite and its role as a sentinel in communities as it indicates a potential risk of exposure. Socio-environmental variables of the neighborhoods and feeding were the main associated factors and evidence the importance of communication and education about the modes of transmission of zoonoses to people and pets in vulnerable communities.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - ***.125.575-** - EDUARDO MENDES DA SILVA - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - ARISTEU VIEIRA DA SILVA - UEFS
Externa à Instituição - IANEI DE OLIVEIRA CARNEIRO - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - HERNÁN DARÍO ARGIBAY - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - CAIO GRACO ZEPPELINI - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - BRUNO MARTORELLI DI GENOVA