Clinical, parasitological, and serological characteristics of toxoplasmosis in felines (Felis catus) infected with isolates i and III of Toxoplasma gondii

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n6Supl3p3511

Keywords:

Toxoplasmosis, Parasites, Experimental infection, Oocysts.

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, characterized by a clinical or subclinical infection attributed mainly to the isolate of the parasite responsible for the infection. Although domestic felines are considered the only urban hosts of this parasite and, consequently, the animals responsible for perpetuating T. gondii cycle in this environment, there is still a lack of information regarding the potential of different strains/isolates of this parasite and appearance of clinical signs during infection in domestic felines. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical, parasitological, and serological characteristics of toxoplasmosis in felines infected with T. gondii isolates type I (RH strain) and III (P strain). Twelve healthy and serologically negative felines were selected for T. gondii (IgG titer < 16). These animals were divided into three experimental groups, GI: (P1, P2, P3, and P4) inoculated with 600 cysts of T. gondii (P strain), GII: (RH1, RH2, RH3, and RH4) inoculated with 2 × 105 tachyzoites (RH strain), and GIII: (C1, C2, C3, and C4) uninoculated. From the seventh day before (day ?7) to the 70th day after inoculation (DAI), the animals were observed daily to verify the occurrence of alterations in the digestive, nervous, locomotor, cardiorespiratory, and urinary systems, as well as skin and appendages. The clinical signs most observed in felines inoculated with T. gondii were apathy, hyporexia, shivering, nasal secretion, ocular secretion, and diarrhea. The results obtained in this study allow inferring that T. gondii isolate type I (RH strain) was more pathogenic to feline species than isolate type III (P strain), although both showed clinical symptomatology in all infected animals.

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Author Biographies

Weslen Fabricio Pires Teixeira, Universidade Federal de Goiás

Prof., Pesquisadores, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.

Dielson da Silva Vieira, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Discente, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", FMVA/UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes, Universidade Federal de Goiás

Prof., Pesquisadores, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.

Gustavo Felippelli, Centro Universitário de Rio Preto

Prof. Dr., Centro Universitário de Rio Preto, UNIRP, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.

Regina Maura Bueno Franco, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

Profa. Pesquisadora, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Nilson Branco, Universidade Estadual de Campinas

Prof. Pesquisador, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Vando Edésio Soares, Universidade Camilo Castelo Branco

Prof. Dr., Universidade Camilo Castelo Branco, UNICASTELO, Descalvado, SP, Brasil.

Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Profa Dra., Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento de Produção e Saúde Animal, FMVA/UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.

Alvimar José da Costa, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Prof. Dr., Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.

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Published

2019-10-16

How to Cite

Teixeira, W. F. P., Vieira, D. da S., Lopes, W. D. Z., Felippelli, G., Franco, R. M. B., Branco, N., Soares, V. E., Bresciani, K. D. S., & Costa, A. J. da. (2019). Clinical, parasitological, and serological characteristics of toxoplasmosis in felines (Felis catus) infected with isolates i and III of Toxoplasma gondii. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 40(6Supl3), 3511–3524. https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n6Supl3p3511

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