Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emer... more Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emergent disease in Europe. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of B. besnoiti in cattle herds in continental Portugal and to identify potential spatial clustering of infection. A stratified two-stage cross-sectional serological survey was carried out between March 2012 and May 2013 with the five administrative NUTS II regions, Norte, Centro, Lisboa, Alentejo, and Algarve, as the stratification level. Sera from 391 herds in 220 parishes and 83 municipalities were analyzed by a serial testing strategy, with the modified agglutination test (B-MAT) as the first screening assay and the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the confirmatory test. Within-herd prevalence of positive herds varied between 0.7 and 72.4% and was ≥10.3% in half of the infected herds. Using a Bayesian approach, the true prevalence of B. besnoiti in cattle herds was determined to be 5.1% (confidence interval (CI), 3.1-7.8%) and the mean within-herd prevalence of positive herds was 33.0% (CI, 20.3-46.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of the B-MAT were estimated to be 96.9% (CI, 93.7-98.8 %) and 99.7% (CI, 99.6-99.8%), whereas those of the IFAT were 89.6% (CI, 86.0-92.5%) and 99.7% (CI, 98.5-99.9%), respectively. Spatial scan statistics analysis identified one spatial cluster covering the majority of the Alentejo region. Seropositive herds were detected for the first time outside Alentejo, in the region Centro and in the northeast of Portugal. Further epidemiological research is needed to identify eco-biological factors, which could explain the geographic clustering of B. besnoiti in Portugal.
Cats and pigeons are important factors in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii as felids are the... more Cats and pigeons are important factors in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii as felids are the only definitive hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts, and pigeons share the same places of cats and humans constituting a good model and indicator of the ground field contamination. We aimed to study the virulence and genotypes of T. gondii isolated from pigeons and stray cats in Lisbon, Portugal. Fresh samples of brain from 41 pigeons and 164 cats revealing antibodies to T. gondii were inoculated in mice. Three isolates (one isolated from a cat and two isolated from pigeons) were virulent in the mouse model. Sag2-based genotyping of T. gondii was achieved in 70.7% (29/41) of samples isolated from pigeons (26 samples were type II, two were type III, and one strain was type I). From the cat brain samples, 50% (82/164) yielded Sag2 positive results, where 72 belonged to genotype II and 10 were no type III (it was not possible to discriminate between type I and II). Fur...
SUMMARY A serological survey was performed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies agains... more SUMMARY A serological survey was performed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies against Neospora caninum in dogs and native animals in a wildlife conservation area in southern Portugal. The study involved 463 animals, including dogs (n = 286), European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus; n = 32), Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon; n = 34), wild boars (Sus scrofa; n = 26), foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n = 25), common genets (Genetta genetta; n = 17), red deer (Cervus elaphus; n = 14), wildcats (Felis silvestris; n = 6), four mustelid species (n = 17) and rodents (n = 6). Samples from dogs were analysed by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). Samples from wild animals were screened by the modified agglutination test and positive and doubtful results were confirmed by IFAT. The seroprevalence of N. caninum in dogs was 32·5% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 27·3–38·1]. Among wild animals, exposure to N. caninum was confirmed only in foxes (12%, 95% CI 4·2–30) and rabbits (25...
Stray cats live in high-density colonies in urban areas and pose a health hazard to household cat... more Stray cats live in high-density colonies in urban areas and pose a health hazard to household cats and humans. In Portugal, information on the parasitic fauna of stray cats is limited and relies mostly on results from faecal analysis. The present survey aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity and intensity of parasites in stray cats from the urban area of Lisbon by means of parasitological necropsy. Internal organs were collected from 162 cats captured in different areas of the city and systematically subjected to parasitological dissection. Helminths were identified by macro- and microscopic examination and protozoa by faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. The overall prevalence of parasites was 90.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85.3-94.6%). A total of 12 parasite species was recorded: Cystoisospora felis (14.2%), Cystoisospora rivolta (46.3%), Sarcocystis sp. (1.2%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (19.1%), Toxocara cati (38.3%), Ollulanus tricuspis (30.9%), Aelurostrongy...
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. A seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of Lisbon. Serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for antibodies anti-T. gondii using a commercial direct agglutination test. Seroprevalence in pigeons was 2.6% (39/1507) (95% CI: 1.9-3.5%) and 37.5% (24/64) of pigeon flocks sampled showed to be infected with T. gondii. The proportion of infected pigeons within seropositive flocks ranged between 4.8% and 21.1%. Among cats, seroprevalence was 44.2% (187/423) (95% CI: 39.5-49.1%). Isolation of T. gondii from animal tissues was attempted by in vitro assay. Inoculation of brain homogenates from 20 pigeons and 56 cats into Vero cell cultures allowed isolation of T. gondii from 13 pigeons (65%) and 15 cats (26.8%). Inoculation of muscle homogenates (heart and limbs) prepared by acid-peptic digestion from a subset of 15 cats resulted in the recovery of T. gondii from 10 cats (66.7%).
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate ...
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. A seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of Lisbon. Serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for antibodies anti-T. gondii using a commercial direct agglutination test. Seroprevalence in pigeons was 2.6% (39/1507) (95% CI: 1.9-3.5%) and 37.5% (24/64) of pigeon flocks sampled showed to be infected with T. gondii. The proportion of infected pigeons within seropositive flocks ranged between 4.8% and 21.1%. Among cats, seroprevalence was 44.2% (187/423) (95% CI: 39.5-49.1%). Isolation of T. gondii from animal tissues was attempted by in vitro assay. Inoculation of brain homogenates from 20 pigeo...
Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emer... more Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emergent disease in Europe. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of B. besnoiti in cattle herds in continental Portugal and to identify potential spatial clustering of infection. A stratified two-stage cross-sectional serological survey was carried out between March 2012 and May 2013 with the five administrative NUTS II regions, Norte, Centro, Lisboa, Alentejo, and Algarve, as the stratification level. Sera from 391 herds in 220 parishes and 83 municipalities were analyzed by a serial testing strategy, with the modified agglutination test (B-MAT) as the first screening assay and the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the confirmatory test. Within-herd prevalence of positive herds varied between 0.7 and 72.4% and was ≥10.3% in half of the infected herds. Using a Bayesian approach, the true prevalence of B. besnoiti in cattle herds was determined to be 5.1% (confidence interval (CI), 3.1-7.8%) and the mean within-herd prevalence of positive herds was 33.0% (CI, 20.3-46.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of the B-MAT were estimated to be 96.9% (CI, 93.7-98.8 %) and 99.7% (CI, 99.6-99.8%), whereas those of the IFAT were 89.6% (CI, 86.0-92.5%) and 99.7% (CI, 98.5-99.9%), respectively. Spatial scan statistics analysis identified one spatial cluster covering the majority of the Alentejo region. Seropositive herds were detected for the first time outside Alentejo, in the region Centro and in the northeast of Portugal. Further epidemiological research is needed to identify eco-biological factors, which could explain the geographic clustering of B. besnoiti in Portugal.
Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emer... more Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emergent disease in Europe. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of B. besnoiti in cattle herds in continental Portugal and to identify potential spatial clustering of infection. A stratified two-stage cross-sectional serological survey was carried out between March 2012 and May 2013 with the five administrative NUTS II regions, Norte, Centro, Lisboa, Alentejo, and Algarve, as the stratification level. Sera from 391 herds in 220 parishes and 83 municipalities were analyzed by a serial testing strategy, with the modified agglutination test (B-MAT) as the first screening assay and the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the confirmatory test. Within-herd prevalence of positive herds varied between 0.7 and 72.4% and was ≥10.3% in half of the infected herds. Using a Bayesian approach, the true prevalence of B. besnoiti in cattle herds was determined to be 5.1% (confidence interval (CI), 3.1-7.8%) and the mean within-herd prevalence of positive herds was 33.0% (CI, 20.3-46.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of the B-MAT were estimated to be 96.9% (CI, 93.7-98.8 %) and 99.7% (CI, 99.6-99.8%), whereas those of the IFAT were 89.6% (CI, 86.0-92.5%) and 99.7% (CI, 98.5-99.9%), respectively. Spatial scan statistics analysis identified one spatial cluster covering the majority of the Alentejo region. Seropositive herds were detected for the first time outside Alentejo, in the region Centro and in the northeast of Portugal. Further epidemiological research is needed to identify eco-biological factors, which could explain the geographic clustering of B. besnoiti in Portugal.
Cats and pigeons are important factors in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii as felids are the... more Cats and pigeons are important factors in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii as felids are the only definitive hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts, and pigeons share the same places of cats and humans constituting a good model and indicator of the ground field contamination. We aimed to study the virulence and genotypes of T. gondii isolated from pigeons and stray cats in Lisbon, Portugal. Fresh samples of brain from 41 pigeons and 164 cats revealing antibodies to T. gondii were inoculated in mice. Three isolates (one isolated from a cat and two isolated from pigeons) were virulent in the mouse model. Sag2-based genotyping of T. gondii was achieved in 70.7% (29/41) of samples isolated from pigeons (26 samples were type II, two were type III, and one strain was type I). From the cat brain samples, 50% (82/164) yielded Sag2 positive results, where 72 belonged to genotype II and 10 were no type III (it was not possible to discriminate between type I and II). Fur...
SUMMARY A serological survey was performed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies agains... more SUMMARY A serological survey was performed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies against Neospora caninum in dogs and native animals in a wildlife conservation area in southern Portugal. The study involved 463 animals, including dogs (n = 286), European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus; n = 32), Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon; n = 34), wild boars (Sus scrofa; n = 26), foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n = 25), common genets (Genetta genetta; n = 17), red deer (Cervus elaphus; n = 14), wildcats (Felis silvestris; n = 6), four mustelid species (n = 17) and rodents (n = 6). Samples from dogs were analysed by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). Samples from wild animals were screened by the modified agglutination test and positive and doubtful results were confirmed by IFAT. The seroprevalence of N. caninum in dogs was 32·5% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 27·3–38·1]. Among wild animals, exposure to N. caninum was confirmed only in foxes (12%, 95% CI 4·2–30) and rabbits (25...
Stray cats live in high-density colonies in urban areas and pose a health hazard to household cat... more Stray cats live in high-density colonies in urban areas and pose a health hazard to household cats and humans. In Portugal, information on the parasitic fauna of stray cats is limited and relies mostly on results from faecal analysis. The present survey aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity and intensity of parasites in stray cats from the urban area of Lisbon by means of parasitological necropsy. Internal organs were collected from 162 cats captured in different areas of the city and systematically subjected to parasitological dissection. Helminths were identified by macro- and microscopic examination and protozoa by faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. The overall prevalence of parasites was 90.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85.3-94.6%). A total of 12 parasite species was recorded: Cystoisospora felis (14.2%), Cystoisospora rivolta (46.3%), Sarcocystis sp. (1.2%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (19.1%), Toxocara cati (38.3%), Ollulanus tricuspis (30.9%), Aelurostrongy...
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. A seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of Lisbon. Serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for antibodies anti-T. gondii using a commercial direct agglutination test. Seroprevalence in pigeons was 2.6% (39/1507) (95% CI: 1.9-3.5%) and 37.5% (24/64) of pigeon flocks sampled showed to be infected with T. gondii. The proportion of infected pigeons within seropositive flocks ranged between 4.8% and 21.1%. Among cats, seroprevalence was 44.2% (187/423) (95% CI: 39.5-49.1%). Isolation of T. gondii from animal tissues was attempted by in vitro assay. Inoculation of brain homogenates from 20 pigeons and 56 cats into Vero cell cultures allowed isolation of T. gondii from 13 pigeons (65%) and 15 cats (26.8%). Inoculation of muscle homogenates (heart and limbs) prepared by acid-peptic digestion from a subset of 15 cats resulted in the recovery of T. gondii from 10 cats (66.7%).
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate ...
Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been link... more Oral contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. Pigeons (Columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. A seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of Lisbon. Serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for antibodies anti-T. gondii using a commercial direct agglutination test. Seroprevalence in pigeons was 2.6% (39/1507) (95% CI: 1.9-3.5%) and 37.5% (24/64) of pigeon flocks sampled showed to be infected with T. gondii. The proportion of infected pigeons within seropositive flocks ranged between 4.8% and 21.1%. Among cats, seroprevalence was 44.2% (187/423) (95% CI: 39.5-49.1%). Isolation of T. gondii from animal tissues was attempted by in vitro assay. Inoculation of brain homogenates from 20 pigeo...
Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emer... more Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti is considered an emergent disease in Europe. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of B. besnoiti in cattle herds in continental Portugal and to identify potential spatial clustering of infection. A stratified two-stage cross-sectional serological survey was carried out between March 2012 and May 2013 with the five administrative NUTS II regions, Norte, Centro, Lisboa, Alentejo, and Algarve, as the stratification level. Sera from 391 herds in 220 parishes and 83 municipalities were analyzed by a serial testing strategy, with the modified agglutination test (B-MAT) as the first screening assay and the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as the confirmatory test. Within-herd prevalence of positive herds varied between 0.7 and 72.4% and was ≥10.3% in half of the infected herds. Using a Bayesian approach, the true prevalence of B. besnoiti in cattle herds was determined to be 5.1% (confidence interval (CI), 3.1-7.8%) and the mean within-herd prevalence of positive herds was 33.0% (CI, 20.3-46.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of the B-MAT were estimated to be 96.9% (CI, 93.7-98.8 %) and 99.7% (CI, 99.6-99.8%), whereas those of the IFAT were 89.6% (CI, 86.0-92.5%) and 99.7% (CI, 98.5-99.9%), respectively. Spatial scan statistics analysis identified one spatial cluster covering the majority of the Alentejo region. Seropositive herds were detected for the first time outside Alentejo, in the region Centro and in the northeast of Portugal. Further epidemiological research is needed to identify eco-biological factors, which could explain the geographic clustering of B. besnoiti in Portugal.
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