Investigation of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence in People Keeping Cats and Not Keeping Cats at Their Home in Sivas

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan and its definitive host is the Felidae family. Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans in many ways. The purpose of the study was to investigate the anti-Toxoplasma IgM and anti-Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity with the ELISA method in people who have cats at home and do not have cats at home, and to reveal the possible relationship between toxoplasmosis and people who keep/contact cats for a long time for any reason at home. Between March 2021 and June 2021, blood samples were taken from 91 people who had a cat in their home for at least a year and 91 people who had never had a cat or had no contact with a cat, in Sivas province. Anti-Toxoplasma IgM and anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were investigated in serum samples by the ELISA method. Age, gender, and other socio-demographic criteria were not considered. Because of the study, all samples were found to be negative for anti-Toxoplasma IgM. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity was detected in 20 (22.0%) of those who had cats at home and 40 (44.0%) of those without cats at home. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of anti-Toxoplasma IgM seropositivity. However, anti-Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity was found to be statistically significant (p=0.002) (p<0.01). Because of the study, anti-Toxoplasma IgG positivity was found to be higher in those who did not feed/contact cats at home and it was statistically significant. It brings to mind that the reason for the high rate of seropositivity in those without cats at home, may not be only the oocysts excreted from cats, but also the transmission by other non-cat transmission routes may still be important.