Detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondiiin wild animals in Brazil

Background: toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite,toxoplasma gondii,that affects all warm-blooded animals,including wild animals. the increased number of cases of parasitic infections is mainly due to the destruction of environmental conservation areas,which is driving wild animals out of their habitats and towards urban areas. in this study,the occurrence oft. gondiiinfection was investigated by the modified agglutination test (mat) in 26 different species of run over and injured wild animals that were treated at a brazilian university veterinary hospital,from june 2007 to august 2008.findings: of the studied animals,six (23.1%; ci95% 11.1-42.2%) hadt. gondiiantibodies,with titers equal to 10 (4; 66.7%) and 40 (2; 33.3%). the speciespseudalopex vetulus,cerdocyon thous,hydrochoerus hydrochaerisandtapyrus terrestrishad titers of 10,whilealouatta carayaandpuma concolorhad titers of 40. there was no significant association regarding age,gender or purpose of care (p > 0.05).conclusions: carnivorous,herbivorous and omnivorous wild animals are potential sentinels of human toxoplasmosis,especially when wild felids are present,maintaining the environmental contamination. © 2014 da silva et al.