Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leptospira and Toxoplasma infections found in Bangkok stray dogs
By Jittapalapong, Sathaporn et al.·Published in The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health·2009·Department of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Coinfection of Leptospira spp and Toxoplasma gondii among stray dogs in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 230 stray dogs in Bangkok had high rates of two serious infections: leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis. About 84% of the dogs tested positive for Leptospira, while nearly 11% had Toxoplasma antibodies. Alarmingly, 10% of the dogs were co-infected with both pathogens. The results highlight a significant public health risk, as these infections can be transmitted from dogs to humans. It's important for pet owners to be aware of these diseases, especially if their pets have been in contact with stray dogs.
People also search for: dog leptospirosis symptoms · stray dog toxoplasmosis risk · how to prevent leptospirosis in dogs
Abstract
Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are zoonotic diseases with global importance. Asymptomatic animals harboring these pathogens may act as carriers to other animals including humans. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Leptospira and Toxoplasma infections in stray dogs in Bangkok. A total of 230 stray dogs from monasteries in a Bangkok district were examined for specific antibodies to T. gondii and Leptospira. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was determined by a modified latex agglutination test (cut off 1 > or = 64). A microscopic agglutination test was performed to detect antibodies to Leptospira (cut off, 1:100). The seroprevalences of T. gondii and Leptospira were 10.9% (25/ 230) and 83.5% (192/230), respectively. Leptospira serovar bataviae was the most predominant (20.3%) serovar. Co-infection with Leptospira and Toxoplasma was found in 22 dogs (9.6%). The prevalence of Toxoplasma in females was significantly higher than in males (p < 0.05), but no significant differences was observed for Leptospira. The high seroprevalence of these two diseases in dogs is of public health concern because close contact between dogs and humans may provide a link between a reservoir in the environment and susceptible humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19323009/