Authors

S GennariI¹; DB Mariani⁷; HS Soares²; R Hurtado³; VC Galizia⁶; MB Silva⁸; E Macedo⁴; RA Dias¹; JC Ramos Silva⁵;  ¹ University of Sao Paulo, UK;  ² Santo Amaro University, Brazil;  ³ Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Brazil;  ⁴ Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brazil;  ⁵ Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil;  ⁶ Self-Employed Veterinarian, Brazil;  ⁷ Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil;  ⁸ Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, Brazil

Discussion

Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite that infects almost all warm-blooded animals, including birds. The Rocas Atoll Biological Reserve, located in the northeast region of Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean, and is home to the largest population of tropical seabirds in the western Atlantic Ocean. The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in seabirds from the Rocas Atoll. The seabirds were captured in three expeditions carried out from June to November 2017. A clinical examination was carried out on each bird, blood samples were taken, and the individual was identified through the placement of metal rings with subsequent release of the bird in the same capture area. For the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies, the Modified Agglutination Test was used. The serum samples were first screened at 1:5 dilution (cut-off point) and the positive samples were titrated at a two-fold serial dilution. In total, 267 birds of seven species belonging to three families Sternidae, Fregatidae and Sulidae and two orders, Charadriiformes and Suliformes, were sampled. Of the 267 samples tested, 20 (7.3%) were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies being: 9 of the 48 Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), 1 (26 birds) Black Noddy (Anous minutus), 3 (20 birds) Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), 5 (95 birds) Sooty Tern (Onychopriom fuscatus) and 2 (20 birds) Red-footed Boody (Sula sula). None of the 33 Masked Boody (Sula dactylatra) and 25 Brown Boody (Sula leucogaster) samples presented antibodies against T. gondii. The antibody titres were 5 (n=6), 10 (n=4), 20 (n=3), 40 (n=6) and 160 (n=1). Due to the uniqueness of this island environment, continuous and systematic monitoring of these seabirds is suggested, aiming to promotion of unique health in the Conservation Unit.