Abstract：
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis that affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. Wild animals can act as intermediate hosts of this pathogen; thus, this study aims to detect Toxoplasma gondii infection in invasive European brown hares in Brazil. For this, 72 wild European brown hares were captured from July 2020 to June 2022 in three Brazilian states: São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. The diagnostic of Toxoplasma gondii infection was performed by bioassay in mouse, histopathology in Hematoxylin-Eosin-stained tissue sections (brain, liver, lungs, kidneys, and small intestine), serology by IFAT, and molecular techniques by conventional PCR and qPCR. The combined prevalence of the different diagnostic methods was 51.4% (37/72, CI= 40.1 - 62.6 %), and there was no statistical difference between sexes, age range, or geographical region of the hosts. Mouse bioassay was the technique that detected more positive hares. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in invasive European brown hares in Brazil. These animals act as reservoirs and potential infection source for carnivores and other wild and domestic animals, including humans, thus contributing to perpetuate the disease cycle in São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul States. Research such as the present study is necessary to raise awareness about the role of animals in the disease cycle.
摘要：
弓形虫病是一种影响温血动物的世界性人畜共患病,包括人类。野生动物可以充当这种病原体的中间宿主；因此，本研究旨在检测巴西侵袭性欧洲褐兔弓形虫感染。为此，从2020年7月至2022年6月，在巴西三个州捕获了72只野生欧洲棕色野兔：圣保罗，巴拉那,还有南里奥格兰德.弓形虫感染的诊断是通过小鼠的生物测定进行的，苏木精-伊红染色组织切片的组织病理学(脑，肝脏,肺,肾脏，和小肠)，IFAT的血清学，和分子技术通过常规PCR和qPCR。不同诊断方法的综合患病率为51.4%(37/72,CI=40.1-62.6%),两性之间没有统计学差异，年龄范围,或主机的地理区域。小鼠生物测定是检测更多阳性野兔的技术。据我们所知,这是巴西入侵性欧洲褐兔首次证实弓形虫感染。这些动物充当食肉动物和其他野生和家养动物的水库和潜在感染源，包括人类,从而使圣保罗的疾病周期永存，巴拉那,和南里奥格兰德州。诸如本研究之类的研究对于提高人们对动物在疾病周期中的作用的认识是必要的。
