Frequence of antibodies for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs in northest of São Paulo State<b/>

Abstract

Two hundred and ninety five samples of canine sera, of dogs from northeast of Sao Paulo State were tested using an immunofluorescent antibody technique (RIFI-IgG) for the presence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. The relationship between antibodies and casual clinical problems also were investigated. The reactions with title = 50 ( N. caninum) and = 16 ( T. gondii) were considered positive. A total of 25 (8,48%) of tested samples were reactive and 270 (91,52%) non-reactive to N. caninum, while 151 (51,19%) of the samples were reactive and 144 (48,81%) were non-reactive to T. gondii. Dogs with serum that reacted positively to both protozons parasites were seen in 17 animals (5,76%). From 58 dogs (19,66%), that showed nervous sintomatology, were detected antibodies in 04 (1,36%) to N. caninum and in 24 (8,14%) to T. gondii. Statistical differences (P < 0,05) between normal dogs and dogs with nervous sintomatology were not observed, despite of some papers have associated nervous signals with these parasites. More experiments should be conduced to show the relationship between N. caninum and clinical problem.