Browsing by Author "Mateus, Teresa Letra"
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- An Antibody-Based Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infection in Client-Owned Cats from PortugalPublication . Pereira, Maria Aires; Nóbrega, Carmen; Mateus, Teresa Letra; Almeida, Daniela Gomes de; Oliveira, Andreia; Coelho, Catarina; Cruz, Rita; Oliveira, Paula; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Pires, Maria J.; Mesquita, João R.; Vala, HelenaToxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of hosts worldwide. However, information on the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in cats from Portugal is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and to identify risk factors using a panel of well-characterized sera. A total of 183 domestic cats were sampled and screened for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum using commercial ELISA assays, and their owners answered an online questionnaire designed to obtain background information. The overall anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalences were 13.1% (CI: 8.97–18.77) and 3.8% (CI: 1.87–7.68), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that living strictly indoors was a significant protection factor (cOR: 0.053; CI: 0.005–0.627), and the presence of a chronic disease a significant risk factor (cOR: 3.106; CI: 1.062–9.082) to T. gondii seroprevalence. When performing multivariate analysis, only chronic disease (aOR: 57.527; CI: 1.7–1976.7) and seropositivity to N. caninum (aOR: 7.929; CI:0.8–82.9) were found to be a significant risk factor to anti-T. gondii antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. caninum seropositivity in cats from Portugal.
- First Report of Echinococcus ortleppi in Free-Living Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from PortugalPublication . Mateus, Teresa Letra; Gargaté, Maria João; Vilares, Anabela; Ferreira, Idalina; Rodrigues, Manuela; Coelho, Catarina; Vieira-Pinto, MadalenaCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis that is prevalent worldwide. It is considered endemic in Portugal but few studies have been performed on Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato and their hosts. In this study, CE cysts are reported for the first time in a free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Portugal. The presence of the metacestodes in the liver of the wild boar was identified by morphological features, microscopic examination and molecular analysis. The sequencing of part of the DNA nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) region revealed a G5 genotype that presently corresponds to Echinococcus ortleppi. This is the first report of E. ortleppi in Portugal and to the best of the authors' knowledge, in Europe. These results suggest that wild boar may be a host of CE, namely, crossing the livestock-wildlife interface, which has important public health implications. Wildlife reservoirs must be taken into account as CE hosts and surveillance of game as well as health education for hunters should be implemented using a One Health approach, with implementation of feasible and tailor-made control strategies, namely, proper elimination of byproducts in the field.
- Parasitas Pulmonares em Pequenos Ruminantes: Mais Conhecimento, Melhor DiagnósticoPublication . Aires Pereira, Maria; Mega, Cristina; Garcês, Andreia; Santos, Carla; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Carmen; Melo, Carolina; Rosário Coelho, Carolina; Coelho, Catarina; Henriques, Diogo; Esteves, Fernando; Vala, Helena; Ferreira, João; Gomes, Liliana; Vila-Viçosa, Maria João; Braguez, Marta; Cruz, Rita; Mateus, Teresa LetraA pneumonia parasitária por nematodes da superfamília Trichostrongyloidea e Metastrongyloidea, também conhecida como estrongilose pulmonar, apresenta elevada prevalência nalgumas regiões geográficas, mas tem merecido pouca atenção por parte dos Médicos Veterinários e investigadores [1,2]. Os estudos de prevalência disponíveis assentam predominantemente na deteção de lesões pulmonares em matadouro e no diagnóstico in vivo, com recurso à técnica de Baermann. No entanto, a velocidade de processamento das carcaças no matadouro limita substancialmente a probabilidade de deteção de lesões características de estrongilose e a técnica de Baermann, apesar de ser considerada a gold standard para diagnóstico in vivo, apresenta uma sensibilidade que não ultrapassa os 90%, é demorada e exige conhecimentos técnicos para a sua correta execução [3,4,5]. Em Portugal, do ponto de vista clínico, estas parasitoses são subdiagnosticadas, na medida em que a pesquisa de parasitas pulmonares raramente é incluída nos testes parasitológicos de rotina, requisitados pelos Médicos Veterinários aos laboratórios [6], o que, associado à escassez de investigação científica na área, cria uma lacuna no conhecimento da distribuição geográfica e de outros aspetos da epidemiologia destas infeções, comprometendo o seu tratamento e controlo. Apesar da desparasitação regular (anual ou bianual) de pequenos ruminantes estar amplamente instituída, alguns princípios ativos frequentemente utilizados para o controlo de parasitas gastrointestinais são pouco eficazes nos nematodes pulmonares, particularmente nalgumas espécies da família Protostrongylidae, pelo que a abordagem terapêutica deve ser integrada e assente no diagnóstico parasitológico prévio. Assim, este trabalho, assente na revisão da bibliografia disponível e na experiência prática dos técnicos e investigadores do Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica da Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu (LAP, ESAV) e do Laboratório de Parasitologia Victor Caeiro da Universidade de Évora (LPVC, UE), pretende sensibilizar os profissionais de saúde animal e investigadores dedicados aos pequenos ruminantes para as infeções por nematodes pulmonares, fornecendo ainda ferramentas de diagnóstico laboratorial acessíveis e orientações para a abordagem terapêutica e profilática.
- Pulmonary and Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Small Ruminant Autochthonous Breeds from Centre Region of Portugal—A Cross Sectional StudyPublication . Pereira, Maria; Vila-Viçosa, Maria; Coelho, Catarina; Santos, Carla; Esteves, Fernando; Cruz, Rita; Gomes, Liliana; Henriques, Diogo; Vala, Helena; Nóbrega, Carmen; Mega, Cristina; Melo, Carolina de; Malva, Madalena; Braguez, Joana; Mateus, Teresa LetraThe production of small ruminant autochthonous breeds in the Centre region of Portugal is practiced in a semi-extensive husbandry system, exposing animals to parasitic infections. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and identify risk factors. Fecal samples of 203 goats and 208 sheep from 30 herds were collected per rectum and subjected to the modified Baermann test. The overall prevalence of infection was 57.7%, significantly higher in goats (95.6%) than in sheep (20.7%) (p < 0.001). According to the binary logistic regression model, sheep dewormed with albendazole, mebendazole plus closantel, or ivermectin plus clorsulon presented a risk of Protostrongylidae infection 29.702, 7.426, or 8.720 times higher, respectively, than those dewormed with eprinomectin. Additionally, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites was investigated in 307 fecal samples using Mini-FLOTAC®. The overall prevalence of infection was 86.3%, also significantly higher in goats (93.2%) than in sheep (79.9%) (p < 0.001). Strongyle-type eggs were the most frequently identified, both in sheep (69.8%) and goats (87.8%), followed by Eimeria oocysts (40.3% in sheep and 68.9% in goats). Considering the high prevalence and the burden of lungworm parasitic infection, it is urgent to determine its economic impact and the repercussions in animal health in the Centre region of Portugal to establish appropriate therapeutic guidelines.
- Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Client-Owned Cats from PortugalPublication . Oliveira, Andreia; Pereira, Maria; Mateus, Teresa Letra; Mesquita, João R.; Vala, HelenaThe close contact between humans and domestic cats raises concerns about the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Thus, this study aims to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and evaluate the infection risk of cats that maintain contact with human COVID-19 cases. A total of 176 cats, belonging to 94 households, were sampled. Cat owners answered an online questionnaire, and cats were screened for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a commercial ELISA. Twenty (21.3%) households reported at least one confirmed human COVID-19 case. Forty cats (22.7%) belonged to a COVID-19-positive and 136 (77.3%) to a COVID-19- negative household. The seroprevalences of cats from COVID-19-positive and -negative households were 5.0% (2/40) and 0.7% (1/136). The two SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats from COVID-19-positive households had an indoor lifestyle, and their owners stated that they maintained a close and frequent contact with them, even after being diagnosed with COVID-19, pointing towards human-to-cat transmission. The SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cat from the COVID-19-negative household had a mixed indoor/outdoor lifestyle and chronic diseases. Owners of the three SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats did not notice clinical signs or behavior changes. This study highlights the low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from COVID-19-positive human household members to domestic cats, even in a context of close and frequent human–animal contact.