Abstract
The felids are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, which could excrete oocysts into the environment and provide an infection source for toxoplasmosis in various warm-blooded animal species, particularly the captive felids that live close to human communities. The infection rate of the captive felids is a perfect standard in detecting the presence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the environment. In this study, sera or tissue samples from zoo (1 young tiger, 2 adult tigers, 6 young lions), farm (10 masked palm civets), and pet hospital (28 cats) from Henan Province (China) were collected. The sera (n = 47) were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii by using modified agglutination test (MAT), whereas the hearts tissue (n = 40) were bioassayed in mice to isolate T. gondii strains. The genotype was distinguished by using PCR-RFLP of 10 loci (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, GRA6, BTUB, L358, c22-8, PK1, c29-2, and Apico). The detection rate for the T. gondii antibody in captive felids was 21.3% (10/47). One viable T. gondii strain (TgCatCHn4) was obtained from a cat heart tissue, and its genotype was ToxoDB#9. The oocysts of ToxoDB#9 were collected from a T. gondii-free cat. The virulence of TgCatCHn4 was low and no cysts were detected in the brain of mice at 60 days post-inoculation. The finding of the present study suggested a widespread exposure of T. gondii for felids in Henan Province of central China, particularly those from the zoological gardens and homes. ToxoDB#9 was the predominant strain in China. Preventive measures against T. gondii oocyst contamination of various components of the environment should thus be implemented, including providing pre-frozen meat, well-cooked cat food, cleaned fruits and vegetables, monitoring birds and rodents, inactive T. gondii oocysts in felids feces, and proper hygiene.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii infects warm-blooded animals, including birds, livestock, humans, and felids
Modified agglutination test (MAT) analysis indicated that the seropositive rate of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to T. gondii was 21.3% (10/47) in captive felids, 7.1% (2/28) in domestic cats, 0% (0/10) in masked civets, 66.7% (2/3) in tigers, and 100% (6/6) in lions
The present study that aimed to assess the impact of T. gondii on captive felids faced several challenges
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infects warm-blooded animals, including birds, livestock, humans, and felids. T. gondii induces lymphadenopathy, retinochoroiditis, encephalitis, abortion, and death in immunocompromised individuals (Hide, 2016). Felids are important in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis for these are the only definitive hosts that can shed environmentally resistant oocysts. Antibody Detection Toxoplasma gondii in Captive Felids (Dubey, 2010). One T. gondii free domestic or wild felid could shed millions of oocysts after ingestion raw meat that contain T. gondii cyst, and the oocysts could survive in soil for years. Oocysts are transported via freshwater runoff into the ocean and may be a threat to the marine ecosystem, marine mammals (Vanwormer et al, 2016). 16% of beach cast carcasses of sea otters in California was due to T. gondii (Miller et al, 2004)
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