A high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a population of feral cats in the Western Cape province of South Africa (original) (raw)
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Parasitology, 2009
Cats are essential in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in nature. Samples of serum, feces, and tissues from feral cats from St Kitts, West Indies were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test, and found in 71 of 96 (73 . 9%) of cats with titres of 1 : 10 in six, 1 : 20 in six,1 : 40 in seven,1 : 80 in three, 1: 160 in 10, 1 : 320 in 13, 1 : 640 in nine, and 1 : 1,280 or higher in 17. Tissues of 10 cats were bio-assayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of 7 cats; from hearts of 6, from tongue of 5, and brains of 3 cats. All 7 isolates were avirulent for mice. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in the feces of 51 cats. Genotyping of these 7 T. gondii isolates by 10 multi-locus PCR-RFLP markers, including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and an apicoplast marker, Apico, revealed 4 genotypes, including clonal Type II, Type III and 2 unique genotypes. Five of the 7 cats had infection with 2 genotypes, indicating high frequency of mixed infection in the cat population on the St Kitts island.
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2017
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite causing infection in humans and a wide range of mammals, with cats being the final and only host that excrete T. gondii-resistant oocysts to the environment. This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in cats sold at Live Animal Markets (LAMs) in Ibadan, Osogbo and Offa, Southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were randomly collected from 226 cats at these markets and separated sera were tested for the presence of antibodies (IgG) to T. gondii, using twofold dilutions from 1:20 to 1:320 by the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). Attributes were analysed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests at P<0.05. Median age of cats was 4.0 months (range: 1-36 months). Of the 226 samples tested, only 10 (4.4%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies at the cutoff titre of 1:20. Nine (4.0%) gave a titre of 1:20; one (0.4%) gave 1:80 while none was positive at 1:40, 1:160 and 1:320 dilutions. Age and gender of cats was not significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Our results showed low prevalence of T. gondii infection in cats sold at LAMs in studied area and suggests confinement as an efficient way of limiting exposure of cats to infection sources.
Parasite Epidemiology and Control, 2020
Toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is transmitted through several hosts with cats serving as its definitive host. Oocysts are released with cat faeces into the environment (e.g. soil); an important medium in its transmission. The level of soil contamination with oocysts is an indicator of the level of ongoing transmission. However, a dearth of information exists on the relationship between the presence of oocysts shedding cats and soil, and its importance in the transmission of T. gondii in Nigeria. In this study, the shedding proportion of T. gondii-like oocysts in cats and soil contamination levels were investigated in three communities in Ibadan, Nigeria. Soil (n = 204) and feral cat faecal samples (n = 14) were examined for the presence of oocysts using a modified sucrose flotation technique. Cat sera (n = 15) were also analysed for IgG antibodies to T. gondii by ELISA. T. gondii-like oocysts were identified in 21.4% (95% CI: 4.6-50.8) of the total cat faecal samples. The prevalence was 50% (95% CI: 6.7-93.3), 0% and 10% (95% CI: 0.3-44.5) in Akinyele, Laniba and Ajibode communities respectively. T. gondii IgG antibody was present in 86.7% of the screened cat sera (including the copropositive cats). The seroprevalence in cats was 75% in Akinyele, 0% Laniba and 90.9% for Ajibode community (P >0.05). Oocysts were recovered from 1.5% (95% CI: 0.50-4.23) of the soil samples screened and were identified from 3.8% (95% CI: 0.13-10.58) of the soil collected in Akinyele community. Akinyele also recorded the highest number of infected cats. Oocysts were identified in soil from dumpsites 2.6% (95% CI: 0.4-13.2) and residential areas 1.9% (95% CI: 0.5-6.8). Soil contaminated with T. gondii-like oocysts and cats shedding oocysts were found in areas with high human activities within the communities. The presence of T. gondii-like oocysts in the soil and the presence of cats that tested positive to antibodies specific to T. gondii MIC 3 Protein suggested the possibility of T. gondii transmission in these communities and places emphasis on its public health importance in a susceptible population.
Revista de Biologia Neotropical / Journal of Neotropical Biology, 2019
The purpose of this study was to verify the seropositivity of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in serum samples and to detect T. gondii DNA detection in tissue from stray cats captured by the Zoonosis Control Center (ZCC) of Goiânia, state of Goiás, during 2016. Antibodies were analyzed by means of an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), while DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using primers that amplify the B1 gene in specimens of brain, muscle and heart from the animals. The serological analysis revealed that 87.4% (21/24) of the cats were positive and the molecular test indicated a positivity rate of 75% (18/24). These high rates of serological and molecular detection are worrisome for public health because they confirm the important role cats play in environmental contamination, and hence, in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans.
Cross-sectional survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in colony cats from urban Florence (Italy)
Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 2010
Cats are the key species in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, even if the proportion of subjects excreting oocysts is low. The aim of the present paper was to obtain information about seroprevalence, oocyst shedding rate and presence of T gondii DNA in faeces collected from an urban population of colony cats in Florence (Tuscany). Fifty European shorthair feral cats were examined for anti-T gondii specific antibodies by a modified agglutination test (MAT), and for oocysts by microscopic examination and for faecal protozoal DNA, by means of a nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) protocol. Twenty-two out of 50 serum samples (44%) were MAT positive. T gondii oocysts were not detected in any of the examined faecal samples. Eight out of 50 faecal specimens (16%) were n-PCR positive and sequencing of the bands was specific for T gondii. Detection by combination of the two methods was higher than single techniques and enhanced the detection of T gondii up to 48%. Our results suggest that the use of MAT plus PCR in faeces may be the best choice for diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis. Further studies to ascertain the real infectivity of the copro-PCR positive subjects are required.
2021
Background: The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is Toxoplasma gondii which is an intracellular protozoan. Felines including cats are the only definitive hosts for T. gondii and they play a significant role in spreading the oocysts in the environment. It has been estimated that T. gondii infects about one-third of the human population. This study was performed to estimate the seroprevalence rate of Anti-T. gondii IgG Abs in 100 strays by using different serological techniques. Methods: Hundred stray cats of both sexes (50 males and 50 females) from different ages (one month to 48 months) were hunted by trap cage and shooting tranquilizer gun in Erbil city and used for detecting T. gondii antibodies. Results: The seroprevalence rates obtained were: 22%, 20% and 11% by MAT, ELISA and LAT respectively. Male cats showed higher seroprevalence than females (13% versus7%). According to the agreement between MAT titers and ELISA IgG (cutoff ELISA≥1) in stray cat’s sera, the percent of posit...
2020
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Human infections are common and generally asymptomatic, but they can become very dangerous in immunosuppressed and HIV-positive patients. The infection can also be serious if it is transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. Infection in untreated mothers can lead to abortion, birth defects and blindness of the fetus. The aim of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgT antibodies in cats in the urban area of Algiers. From December 2017 to August 2018, blood samples from 184 stray cats were collected and analyzed for IgG antibodies against T. gondii using an ELISA method. Overall, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in stray cats was 58.15% (107/184). There was no statistically significant difference between male and female cats. The rate of seropositivity of T. gondii increased with age (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the different ...
2013
""Thirty apparently healthy domestic short-haired cats (Felis catus) of both sexes, 3-48 months old, living in a wildlife facility in Manila were used in the study. The animals had no record of deworming or vaccination. Cats with owners were excluded in the study. Blood sera were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Test kit. It was observed that 46.67% of all the animals tested had serologic evidence of exposure to T. gondii. Males (66.67%) were found to be more prone to the infection than females (26.67%). All animals that tested positive were adults. This study showed that male, adult domestic short-haired cats were more prone to exposure to the parasite than females and young animals. ""
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Toxoplasma gondii is considered a disease risk for many native Australian species. Feral cats are the key definitive host of T. gondii in Australia and therefore, investigating the epidemiology of T. gondii in cat populations is essential to understanding the risk posed to wildlife. Test sensitivity and specificity are poorly defined for diagnostic tests targeting T. gondii in cats and there is a need for validated techniques. This study focused on the feral cat population on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. We compared a novel real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol to the modified agglutination test (MAT) and used a Bayesian latent class modelling approach to assess the diagnostic parameters of each assay and estimate the true prevalence of T. gondii in feral cats. In addition, we performed multivariable logistic regression to determine risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in cats. Overall T. gondii prevalence by qPCR and MAT was 79.5% (95% confidence interval 72.6-85.0) and 91.8% (84.6-95.8), respectively. Bayesian modelling estimated the sensitivity and specificity of the MAT as 96.2% (95% credible interval 91.8-98.8) and 82.1% (64.9-93.6), and qPCR as 90.1% (83.6-95.5) and 96.0% (82.1-99.8), respectively. True prevalence of T. gondii infection in feral cats on Phillip Island was estimated as 90.3% (83.2-95.1). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that T. gondii infection was positively associated with weight and this effect was modified by season. Cats trapped in winter had a high probability of infection, regardless of weight. The present study suggests qPCR applied to tissue is a highly sensitive, specific and logistically feasible tool for T. gondii testing in feral cat populations. Additionally, T. gondii infection is highly prevalent in feral cats on Phillip Island, which may have significant impacts on endemic and introduced marsupial populations.