Epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in felids and canids in Brazil: A brief One Health overview

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which infects animals and humans worldwide. Felids are definitive hosts that eliminate oocysts, contaminating the environment, food, and water. Among carnivores, cats are the most important hosts for the epidemiology of the disease since a single individual can shed millions of oocysts. Wild canids are considered sentinels and play an essential role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis due to tissue cysts in muscle cells, representing a source of infection for carnivores through predation, while environmental contamination is mainly due to oocyst shedding by felids. Free-ranging felids are more likely to be infected by T. gondii than felids living in captivity. The free-living wild canids have lower seropositivity compared to canids in captivity. This review article presents epidemiological data on toxoplasmosis in domestic and wild carnivores in Brazil, targeting professionals in clinical practice, veterinary pathology, diagnostics, and One Health. Therefore, we understand the importance of disseminating diagnoses, epidemiological investigations and animal health programs to control, prophylaxis and treat toxoplasmosis in domestic and wild carnivores.