Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with caprine toxoplasmosis in the State of Goiás, Brazilian Savanna

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of cosmopolitan distribution responsible for the infection of different mammals including humans. In small ruminants, this parasitosis is responsible for the emergence of reproductive alterations that lead to considerable economic losses. Despite the importance of the subject in goats, until now there is a lack of data on goat toxoplasmosis in herds in Goiás. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution and risk factors for infection by Toxoplasma gondii in goats in the State of Goiás, located in the Brazilian Cerrado, an unprecedented fact in the consulted literature. For this purpose, 894 blood serum samples obtained from goats from all regions of the State of Goiás were analyzed for the presence of anti-T. gondii by means of the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). Data referring to the sex, age of the animals, size of the property, breeding system, water source, purpose of breeding, replacement of the herd, type of slaughter, veterinary assistance, presence of domestic felines, and presence of wild felines were obtained at the time of sampling. Differences between the seroprevalences obtained in relation to the analyzed variables were estimated using Pearson's chi-square test (χ2). The odds ratio (OR) values for each assessed risk factor were statistically analyzed. A positivity was observed for the IgG anti-T. gondii (title ≥ 64) in 60.4% (540/894) of the samples. We found a wide distribution of seropositive animals within the State of Goiás, with the presence of at least one seropositive goat in all mesoregions and microregions analyzed. Furthermore, in 91.40% (85/93) of the municipalities in the State and 93.80% (121/129) of the evaluated farms, the presence of at least one serum reactive goat was detected. The animals’ age, property size, water source, rearing system, and purpose of rearing were the risk factors statistically associated with the occurrence of T. gondii in goats. Through the results obtained, it was possible to identify a high prevalence of serum reactivity in the animals for T. gondii in the state of Goiás, with a wide distribution of this parasitosis in the state. Such inference leads to the need to establish several control measures that can be related with the statistically identified risk factors such as age, property size, water source, rearing system, and purpose of rearing. This action will be taken aiming avoid the spread and evolution of caprine toxoplasmosis in the Savanna region of Brazil.