Serological and molecular survey ofinfection and associated risk factors in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China.

Abstract

() is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the only definitive host ofand continuously excrete highly infectious oocysts. This parasite carried by the companion animals leads to a great public health risk. However, there is little information on epidemiology ofin urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China. In the present study, a total of 231 serum and fecal samples were collected in Kunming aera, and then seroprevalence ofIgG antibodies in serum and molecular investigation in feces were analyzed to elucidateinfection in urban cats. The results revealed that 168 of 231 cats (72.7%) were positive forantibodies, and 1 of 74 cat feces (1.4%) also showed a positive PCR forDNA. The positive fecal sample was sequenced and then phylogenetically analyzed, and the isolate ofin the present study was closely related tostrain CN. In addition, the food, water and age of cats were identified as the risk factor for seropositivity. Overall, our findings indicate the widespread occurrence ofinfection in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China and identify food, water and age are the risk factors associated withinfection, which can provide effective information for developing strategies to prevent and control this zoonosis.