Evaluation of Epidemiological Factors in the Occurrence of Antibodies Against Toxoplasma gondii in Dogs from a College Hospital

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular obligate protozoan parasite, like in other species, is very common in dogs, and its diagnosis is difficult, because the clinical signs were confounded with other diseases. The relationship between human and dog infection epidemiological chains justify the study of this disease, yet. From April 2004 to July 2006 were evaluated antibodies against T. gondii by modified agglutination test in 540 sera samples for dogs admitted in a Veterinary Hospital. From evaluated animals, 44 (8.15%) presented antibodies titers against Toxoplasma up to 64. There was significant association between serological test positivity and animal age, but not to other epidemiological or clinical variables.