Ocorrência de Sarcocystis spp. e Toxoplasma gondii em suínos de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are obligate intracellular protozoa, of worldwide occurrence, highly prevalent in vertebrate animals and humans. Among the risk factors for infection, consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts and ingestion of food and water contaminated with oocysts stand out. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the occurrence of anti-Sarcocystis spp. and anti-Toxoplasma gondii in domestic swine from Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, and to investigate the presence of Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii, through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in porcine tissues and sausages, destined for human consumption. Serum samples from 84 swine from 31 farms in the municipality were analyzed using the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFA) technique. Samples with antibody titers equal to or greater than 32 and 64 for Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii, respectively. The frequency of anti–Sarcocystis spp. was 36.9% (31/84) with titers ranging from 32 to 1024 (SD ± 196.3) and anti-T. gondii was 25.0% (21/84) with titers ranging from 64 to 2,048 (SD ± 491.8). A total of 53 swine tissue samples were subjected to PCR. Of these, 36 (67.9%) and 7 (13.2%) were positive for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii, respectively. The presence of antibodies associated with the DNA detection of these protozoa indicates that the swine were infected and contribute to the epidemiological cycle of the parasite. The presence of these protozoa in the swine population is relevant in the area of public health, due to its zoonotic potential.