Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis catus, Linnaeus 1758) living in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis catus, Linnaeus 1758) living in Lima, Peru AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the frequency of infection by T. gondii in cats, by examining serum and fecal samples from animals attended at veterinary clinics in the Metropolitan Region of Lima, Peru. We collected and analyzed 154 cat serum samples and 50 fecal samples, regardless of the age, gender or breed. In parallel with the sample collections, the owners answered an epidemiological questionnaire that investigated the following variables: age group, gender, lifestyle (confined, semi-confined or free-living animals), feeding and hunting habits. The serum and fecal samples were analyzed using indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and coproparasitological tests, respectively. IHA showed that the frequency of cat exposure to T. gondii was 11%. Age and gender showed no association with exposure to the parasite. Exposure among the cats was associated with hunting (x 2 = 4.98, p = 0.016) and feeding habits (x 2 = 13.34, p = 0.001): those fed with raw meat were more exposed than those fed with commercial cat food (x 2 = 9.50, p = 0.004) or with homemade food (x 2 = 4.1, p = 0.027). The frequency of cats diagnosed in the chronic phase of T. gondii infection was 88% (15/17). No T. gondii oocysts were found in any of the 50 fecal samples examined.

Serologic survey of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats (Felis catus) sold at live animal markets in Southwestern Nigeria

“…This study also showed that there was no statistically significant association between gender and T. gondii infection in cats. This finding is similar to the report of some previous studies (Gauss et al, 2003;Alayande et al, 2012;Cerro et al, 2014) but contrary to the suggestion that there is the likelihood of higher exposure for the male cat due to its territorial dominance (Smith et al, 1992). Our study revealed that kittens less than six months of age had higher antibodies to T. gondii infection than other age groups.…”

“…gondii is distributed worldwide and factors such as geographical, environmental and cultural habits have been known to influence the prevalence of the parasite especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Dubey, 2010). Serological studies carried out worldwide indicate varying prevalence rates of T. gondii infection with 7% in Nigeria (Alayande et al, 2012), 57.8% in China (Qian et al, 2012), 63% in Albania (Silaghi et al, 2014) and 10% -87% in Brazil Cerro et al, 2014).…”

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, northwestern China

“…Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic intracellular apicomplexan protozoan that can infect humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals worldwide (DUBEY, 2010;MONTOYA & LIESENFELD, 2004;TENTER et al, 2000;SOUSA et al, 2014;CERRO et al, 2014;BARROS et al, 2014). Humans and animals can be infected mainly through the ingestion of tissue cysts from undercooked or raw meat or through the consumption of food or water contaminated with sporulated oocysts shed by infected felids (KIJLSTRA & JONGERT, 2008).…”

Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii and Risk Factors Associated with the Infection in Stray Dogs and Cats of Panama

“…Unfortunately, the data were not stratified; therefore, no inferences can be made about risk factors among these populations. Furthermore, in the cities of Bogota and Lima, the frequencies of T. gondii infection in abandoned dogs and domestic cats were 16.8% and 11.0–17.9% respectively [ 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”