Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Toxoplasma infection rates in stray and pet cats in Riyadh Saudi
By Mohammed, Osama B et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2019·Department of Zoology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in household and stray cats of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, found that about 26% of cats tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause health issues. Stray cats had a higher infection rate (39%) compared to household cats (13%). Older cats, especially those over 6 years old, were more likely to be infected. The American breed had the highest rate of infection at 38.5%. This information can help pet owners understand the risks of Toxoplasma in their cats, especially if they have older or stray cats around.
People also search for: cat Toxoplasma gondii symptoms · stray cat infection risks · how to protect my cat from parasites
Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in the area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We examined 200 serum samples collected from stray and household cats for T. gondii antibodies by ELISA. The overall seroprevalence was 26%. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in stray cats (39%) compared with household cats (13%). The prevalence in male and female cats was 31.4% and 20.4%, respectively. The seroprevalence increased with age and was higher in cats over 6 years of age (43%) as opposed to cats less than 4 years old (33%). Seropositivity varied according to the breed. The highest was recorded among cats of American breed (38.5%), followed by Persian (27%), Himalayan (21%), Bengali (11.5%), and Siamese (2%). Antibodies were not reported from the Turkish breed. Overall seroprevalence among cats did not vary significantly with season or with the localities within the Riyadh municipality. We also examined 100 faecal samples from stray and household cats by flotation technique, which revealed an overall prevalence of 12% of T. gondii oocycts.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599548/