Análisis epidemiológico de Toxoplasma gondii en mamíferos silvestres en el Bioparque Amaru del cantón Cuenca

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan that infects many warm-blooded animals, causing Toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to determine seropositivity of T. gondii in serum of 58 mammals from Amaru Biopark in the city of Cuenca-Ecuador, in a stratified sample of three orders: Carnivora, Artiodactyla and Primates. For this purpose, the Toxoplasmosis Indirect ELISA Multi-species kit was used, which uses the p30 antigen and the anti-multispecies IgG-HRP conjugate. Seropositivity was obtained in 41 animals (70,68%), of which the 36,21% corresponded to carnivores, 18,96% to primates, and 15,51% to artiodactyls. Three repetitions of the test were carried out. It was also determined that carnivores have the highest risk of infection - perhaps due to their type of diet - which may be related to the existence of tissue cysts with bradyzoites in the meat, although herbivores and frugivores can also be infected by soil contamination with sporulated oocysts of T. gondii excreted by the definitive host, which can survive long periods in the soil and even in fruits and vegetables. Another risk factor is the time spent in the Biopark. The entry of rescued animals from the Costa and Oriente regions are possible risk factors associated to infection with T. gondii.