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Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum seroprevalences in domestic South American camelids of the Peruvian Andes

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii- and Neospora caninum-specific antibodies in domestic South American camelids (SAC) (llamas and alpacas) from the Peruvian Andes through a cross-sectional study. A wide panel of serum samples collected from 1,845 llamas and 2,874 alpacas from the two main SAC production areas of Peru was selected. Immunofluorescence antibody technique was employed to detect and titrate specific anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum immunoglobulins G in serum samples. The association between T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence and the geographical origin (Central and South Peruvian Andes) was evaluated. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 460 (24.9 %) llamas and 706 (24.6 %) alpacas, whereas anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 153 (8.3 %) llamas and 425 (14.8 %) alpacas. Toxoplasma gondii infection was strongly associated with the South Peruvian Andes where moderate climate conditions, larger human population, compared to the Central region, and the presence of wildlife definitive hosts could favor horizontal transmission to SAC. In contrast, N. caninum infection was not associated with the geographical region. These results indicate that T. gondii and N. caninum infections are highly and moderately widespread, respectively, in both species of domestic SAC studied in the sampled areas and appropriate control measures should be undertaken to reduce the prevalence of both parasitic infections.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been financed with a grant from the Spanish government (Scientific Cooperation Program with Latin America MEC-PR77/00-no. 9015). The authors thank all farmers for their collaboration and Vanesa Navarro for technical assistance.

Conflict of interest

All authors have given informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study and certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization.

Ethical statement

All the animal studies were carried out according to the international standards for animal experimentation and accomplish with Spanish and EU legislation about the use of animals for Science purposes (Spanish law 6/2013 and Council Directive 2010/63/UE).

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Correspondence to Adriana Aguado-Martínez.

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Chávez-Velásquez, A., Aguado-Martínez, A., Ortega-Mora, L.M. et al. Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum seroprevalences in domestic South American camelids of the Peruvian Andes. Trop Anim Health Prod 46, 1141–1147 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0618-1

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