Abstract
Aim: This serological survey was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in two populations of dogs (stray and owned dogs) in Grenada. Dogs get infected with oocysts voided from cats, definitive hosts of T. gondii. In dogs, T. gondii causes subclinical to clinical disease. Earlier studies conducted in Grenada on a small population of owned dogs showed evidence of exposure to T. gondii. Materials and Methods: Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in serum samples from 625 dogs (368 stray and 257 owned dogs) from around all six parishes in Grenada, West Indies, using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 123 (33.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 28.58-38.22%) of stray dogs and in 64 (25%; 95% CI: 19.71-30.29%) of the owned dogs. Seropositivity was higher in stray dogs than in pet dogs (p=0.026). Whereas, there was no sex predisposition to seropositivity in owned dogs (p=1.0), female stray dogs showed a higher prevalence than male stray dogs (p=0.04). Conclusion: These results support previous findings that T. gondii is prevalent in Grenada. In this study, overall seropositivity for T. gondii in dogs in Grenada is lower than noted in 2008, but is still higher in stray dogs than in owned dogs.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite that is widely prevalent in all warm blooded animals including humans worldwide [1]
There was no sex predisposition to seropositivity in owned dogs (p=1.0), female stray dogs showed a higher prevalence than male stray dogs (p=0.04)
A total of 625 dogs (368 stray dogs and 257 owned dogs) were examined. Based on this sample population seropositivity for T. gondii was 123 (33.4%; 95% Confidence intervals (CI): 28.58-38.22%) for the stray dogs and 64 (25%; 95% CI: 19.71-30.29%) for the owned dogs (Table-1). This investigation showed that the prevalence in female stray dogs was 37.7% and 27% in male stray dogs, whereas that for owned dogs 22.5% in female and 27% in male dogs (Table-2)
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian parasite that is widely prevalent in all warm blooded animals including humans worldwide [1]. T. gondii is an important zoonotically as it causes congenital defects or abortion and fatal disease in immunocompromised humans. Humans and other animals can become infected by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat or from food or drink contaminated with oocysts shed in cat feces. Dogs play an important role in the mechanical transmission of oocysts to humans. Dogs roll in cat feces and other smelly substances, contaminating their fur, serving as a source of infection to young children [2]. Humans become infected by consuming undercooked dog meat where dogs are used for food [3]
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