Abstract
ABSTRACT. da Rocha E.M., Nunes A.A., Flausino W., da Rocha M.N.M., de Souza W.J.S. & Lopes C.W.G. Cats and dogs as risk factors for pregnant women on Toxoplasma gondii infection at the Region of Araguarina in the State of Tocantins, Brazil. [Fatores de risco associados a gatos e cães e a positividade de gestantes ao Toxoplasma gondii na região de Araguarina no estado do Tocantins, Brasil]. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 34(2):79-82, 2012. Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto Tocantinense Presidente Antônio Carlos, Av. Filadélfia, 600, Setor Oeste, Araguaína, TO 77800-000, Brasil. E-mail: elviomachado@yahoo.com.br Toxoplasma gondii, etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, has the cat as the definitive host and, human being and others vertebrate hosts as intermediated hosts, the range of this parasite can determined by its low specificity and different forms of transmission. This disease is associated severe systemic, neurological and congenital lesions, mainly acquired in the first trimester of pregnancy. At the Araguarina in the State of Goiás, the risk factor is associated to the presence of cats (p<0.0001) and dogs (p<0.0001) in relationship with the frequency of seropositivity pregnant human (57.32%). There is an evidence of the hole of cats and dogs as the main source of infection for pregnant women that get in contact with sporulated oocysts shed by cats and/or acquired from dogs by xenosmophilia.