ACESSO ABERTO
Toxoplasma gondii é o agente etiológico da toxoplasmose, uma zoonose de ampla distribuição mundial que acomete diversas espécies animais, incluindo caprinos, ovinos e seres humanos. Nos caprinos, a infecção assume relevância sanitária e produtiva, estando associada à contaminação ambiental, ao manejo dos rebanhos e à interação com outros animais, especialmente felídeos. A toxoplasmose caracteriza-se pela capacidade do parasito de se multiplicar intracelularmente e persistir no organismo do hospedeiro, podendo resultar em alterações clínicas inespecíficas, distúrbios reprodutivos e prejuízos econômicos aos sistemas de produção. Além disso, a presença do agente em rebanhos caprinos representa um risco potencial à saúde pública, considerando a inserção desses animais na cadeia alimentar. A presente revisão de literatura propõe uma abordagem dos principais aspectos da toxoplasmose em caprinos, reunindo informações sobre o agente etiológico, o ciclo de vida, as formas de transmissão, os sinais clínicos, os fatores de risco, o diagnóstico, a epidemiologia, o controle e a profilaxia, com o objetivo de contribuir para a compreensão da enfermidade e subsidiar estratégias sanitárias no âmbito da buiatria e da Saúde Única.
Palavras-chave: caprinocultura, doenças parasitárias, epidemiologia, pequenos ruminantes, saúde pública.
Toxoplasma gondii is the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, a zoonosis with worldwide distribution that affects several animal species, including goats, sheep, and humans. In goats, the infection has sanitary and productive relevance, as it is associated with environmental contamination, herd management practices, and interactions with other animals, especially felids. Toxoplasmosis is characterized by the parasite's ability to multiply intracellularly and persist within the host organism, which may result in nonspecific clinical alterations, reproductive disorders, and economic losses to production systems. Furthermore, the presence of the agent in goat herds poses a potential risk to public health, as goats are included in the food chain. This literature review proposes an overview of the main aspects of toxoplasmosis in goats, bringing together information on the etiological agent, life cycle, modes of transmission, clinical signs, risk factors, diagnosis, epidemiology, control, and prophylaxis, to contribute to the understanding of the disease and support sanitary strategies within the scope of food animal medicine and the One Health approach.
Keywords: goat farming, parasitic diseases, epidemiology, small ruminants, public health.
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