Ocorrência de leishmania sp. e toxoplasma gondii em gatos (Felis catus) do município de São Luís ,Maranhão

Abstract

Among the vector-borne diseases in humans, leishmaniasis is considered one of the most important .Visceral leishmaniasis is an infectious disease of zoonotic, cosmopolitan and of great public health impact caused by different species of Leishmania protozoa. The transmission of the parasite responsible for leishmaniasis, to susceptible animals occurs through the bite of infected female of Lutzomyia, and in Brazil the most important vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Leishmaniasis is disease of immunosuppressive character and so can facilitate coinfection with other opportunistic diseases such as Toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Leishmania sp and Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic cats (Felis catus domesticus) in order to carry out a study on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of feline disease in the municipality of São Luís. Blood samples were collected from 113 felines which derived from various private veterinary clinics, various residences and three ONGs located in metropolitan and rural areas of the city, for subsequent hematological and biochemical exams, as well as the performance of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Leishmania sp. and Toxoplasma gondii. The tests performed was complete blood count and biochemists, as ALT, AST, Urea and Creatinine. The studied animals were with or without clinical symptoms for the disease , regardless of race or gender , and age from 6 months old. The prevalence of leishmaniasis observed by ELISA was 7.96% and the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis was 36.28%. Seven (77,7%) of the nine animals reactive to Leishmania sp., had concurrent infection with Toxoplasma gondii. There was a statistically significant association between the occurrence of the two diseases. Thus, this study showed high rates of prevalence of both diseases, found that the Leishmania and Toxoplasma gondii. are circulating agents in São Luís, Maranhão and infected cats are predisposed to co-infection with Toxoplasma gondii.