Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs and risk of infection of dogs and women in the city Saint Louis, Senegal

The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs and evaluate the risk of infection of dogs and women in antenatal consultation in the city of Saint Louis (Senegal). Investigators recorded information via interview of owners of 100 dogs and 136 women in antenatal consultation in the town of Saint Louis. They related to the age, the sex, the lifestyle and the medical condition of the dogs. The level of education, contact with carnivores and the dietary habits were taken into account to assess the risk of human infection. A blood sample was taken from each animal for the search for anti Neospora caninum (LSIVET Blocking competitive ELISA multi-species) and anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using the modified direct agglutination method (BioMerieux©Toxo-ScreenDA). The seroprevalence recorded in the population of dogs was 48±9.7% (neosporosis) and 68±9.1% (toxoplasmosis). The co-infection rate of the dogs was 36±9.4%. No studied variables were associated with the prevalence of the neosporosis. On the other hand, bitches were 2.5 times more infected with Toxoplasma gondii (95%CI=1.1-7.7; p<0.05) and the absence of deworming of the animals increased by 2.5 times the risk of contamination (95%CI=0.9-6.7; p<0.05). The investigation conducted on women showed that 87.5% of them had an age ranging between 15-36 years, 60.3% did not have access to education and 17.6% presented unexplained miscarriages. Risk factors of infection that were investigated, in particular contact of the women of Saint Louis with the carnivores (57.4% and 63.2% with dogs and cats respectively), well/borehole water consumption by 13.3% of the women, the dietary habits including the consumption of raw vegetables, insufficiently cooked meats, grills and raw milk by 80.2%, 24.3%, 64.7% and 53.7% of the women respectively show a real exposure of the human population to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Moreover, the insalubrity of the city and insufficient family hygiene could be additional risk factors of human infection.