Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected ewes in the semiarid region of Brazil

•The first study about vertical transmission in offspring born from naturally seroreagent sheep in Brazil.•13.3 % of vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii occurred in naturally seropositive pregnant ewes.•48 % offspring showed colostral antibodies within 48 h after birth and 20 % continued with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2021-02, Vol.74, p.101595-101595, Article 101595
Main Authors: Costa, Flávia T.R., Nogueira, Denise B., Oliveira, Maria A.G., Silva, Samara S., Silva, Rômulo F., Sarmento, Wlysse F., Azevedo, Sérgio S., Gennari, Solange M., Pena, Hilda F.J., Brasil, Arthur W.L., Vilela, Vinícius L.R., Feitosa, Thais F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antibodies, Protozoan
Birth
Blood
Brazil - epidemiology
Colostrum
Female
Fluorescence
IFAT
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - veterinary
Ingestion
Lambs
Offspring
Pregnancy
Protozoa
Semi arid areas
Semiarid lands
Sheep
Sheep Diseases - transmission
Toxoplasma - immunology
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - transmission
Transplacental
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Summary:•The first study about vertical transmission in offspring born from naturally seroreagent sheep in Brazil.•13.3 % of vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii occurred in naturally seropositive pregnant ewes.•48 % offspring showed colostral antibodies within 48 h after birth and 20 % continued with these antibodies until the 56th.•Ewes with higher antibody titers presented greater likelihood of colostral antibodies detection in their offspring lambs. To evaluate transplacental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected ewes, blood samples were collected from 55 pregnant ewes and their offspring, before ingestion of colostrum. From 16 offspring of positive ewes and nine offspring from negative ewes, blood samples were obtained after 48 h and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days after birth. T. gondii antibodies were detected in serum samples using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64). Four of the 30 positive ewes (13.3 %) had offspring positive for T. gondii before ingesting colostrum (vertical transmission). The colostrum antibody titers decreased every week, and only 20 % (2/10) of the lambs in continued to present detectable antibody titers until day 56 after birth. Therefore, vertical transmission of T. gondii in lambs was indication of occur and is an important route for transferring and maintaining the agent in sheep herds in the Brazilian semiarid region.
ISSN:0147-9571
1878-1667
DOI:10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101595