Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Toxoplasma infection found in 16% of cats in Curitiba Brazil
By Cruz, Marúcia de Andrade et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2011·Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 16.3% of domestic cats in Curitiba, Brazil, tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. This means that out of 282 cats examined, 46 had antibodies indicating past exposure to the parasite. The researchers noted that the lower infection rate might be due to the cats being well cared for, with limited outdoor access and diets consisting mainly of processed foods. This suggests that keeping cats indoors and providing proper nutrition may help reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis.
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Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii which infects all warm-blood vertebrates. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a population of domestic cats seen at a major cat-only veterinary clinic in Curitiba, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. Serum samples were processed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) for the detection of IgG. Antibody titers were found in 16.3% (46/282) of sera analyzed, with titers to T. gondii of 16 in eight cats, 64 in 23 cats, 256 in 14 cats and 1024 in one cat. Statistical differences were not found regarding the association with age, gender and different areas of the city (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found in any variable when comparing seropositivity with potential risk factors. The seroprevalence was relatively lower when compared to other Brazilian regions, probably due to the fact that the cats studied were owned, domiciled with restricted dietary habits based on processed foods, restricted access to the street and no prey access. In conclusion, low feline toxoplasmosis seroprevalence may be associated to owned cats due to adequate dietary care and restricted outdoor access, as well as low local environmental exposure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961760/