| dc.description.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. | |
