Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Toxoplasma infection rates and risks in pet dogs in Hunan China
By Wen, Xing-Xing et al.·Published in Parasites, hosts and diseases·2025·Hunan Biological and Electromechanical Polytechnic, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pet dogs in Hunan Province, subtropical China.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that about 10.8% of pet dogs in Hunan Province, China, tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can affect both animals and humans. The researchers discovered that older dogs (over 3 years) and those tested in the summer were more likely to be infected. This highlights the importance of monitoring for this infection in dogs, as it poses a risk of transmission to humans. Pet owners should be aware of this risk and consider preventive measures to protect their dogs and themselves.
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are ubiquitous in both animals and humans. Although seroprevalence data exist for pet dogs across multiple Chinese provinces, limited epidemiological information is available for T. gondii infection in pet dogs in subtropical China's Hunan Province. We examined T. gondii antibodies in pet dogs from Hunan Province using the indirect hemagglutination test. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with T. gondii infection (season, sex, age, breed, and location). The overall seroprevalence was 10.8% (95% confidence interval (CI)=9.0-12.6) (118/1,092), with regional variations ranging from 8.0% (95% CI=4.2-11.8) to 21.1% (95% CI=8.1-34.0). Antibody titers followed a descending distribution: 42.3% (1:64), 30.5% (1:128), 20.3% (1:256), 5.1% (1:512), and 1.7% (1:1,024). The multivariate analysis identified the season (highest in summer: odds ratio=2.0, 95% CI=1.2-3.4) and age (>3 years: odds ratio=2.8, 95% CI=1.5-5.3) as factors independently associated with the outcome (P<0.05). These finding revealed the high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pet dogs in Hunan Province, subtropical China, highlighting the risk of zoonotic transmission. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to prevent and control toxoplasmosis in pet dogs in this province.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40888018/