Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from a nonendemic area in Brazil

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2016 Mar;28(2):171-4. doi: 10.1177/1040638715626487.

Abstract

In South America, capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as well as coatis (Nasua nasua) are the reservoir hosts of Trypanosoma evansi. Capybaras from a T. evansi nonendemic area in the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, were culled because of an ongoing outbreak of Brazilian spotted fever; serum samples from these capybaras were tested for antibodies to T. evansi. Of the 172 sera tested, 17 (9.9%) were seropositive by card agglutination test, with antibody titers of 1:8-1:128; 14 (8.1%) of these 17 seropositive sera were also seropositive by indirect fluorescent antibody test, with antibody titers of 1:16-1:256. Both serologic techniques proved to be efficient, with similar results for detection of antibodies to T. evansi in capybaras from a nonendemic area in Brazil.

Keywords: CATT/T. evansi; Capybaras; Trypanosoma evansi; indirect fluorescent antibody test; serology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Rodentia*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Trypanosoma / isolation & purification*
  • Trypanosomiasis / epidemiology
  • Trypanosomiasis / veterinary*