Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses worldwide. Cats become infected after ingesting infected tissue cysts. The objective of the present study was to compare the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pet cats and semi-domesticated cats in the Bangkok metropolitan region. A survey of Toxoplasma infection was conducted in 260 cats (median age [range]: 3 years [10 months–10 years]; 155 females and 105 males) by collecting blood samples from 130 client-owned pet cats and 130 semi-domesticated cats within and around Bangkok during 2016–2017 using indirect fluorescence antibody tests. An IgG antibody to Toxoplasma antigen ratio of ≥1:100 was considered positive for Toxoplasma infection.ResultsThe overall prevalence of T. gondii in cats was 6.5% (17/260). The prevalence of T. gondii in semi-domesticated cats and pet cats was 11.5 and 1.5%, respectively. Semi-domesticated cats aged 1–5 years (14.9%) had a higher prevalence of infection than domesticated cats (1.3%, p = 0.002) of the same age. The odds (95% confidence interval [CI]) of having T. gondii infection in semi-domesticated cats were 8.34 (1.86–76.29, p = 0.0017) times higher than in pet cats. Interestingly, there was an association between T. gondii infection according to city region (p = 0.002). The odds (95% CI) of having T. gondii infection in cats living in the inner city were 4.96 (1.03–47.16, p = 0.023) times higher than cats living in the suburb and the vicinity.ConclusionsThe present study identified a higher prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in semi-domesticated cats compared with pet cats. The semi-domesticated cats could serve as a zoonotic reservoir. Public health regulations should be implemented to prevent toxoplasmosis spread.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses worldwide
Antibodies to T. gondii were reported in the sera of 4.8–11.0% of stray cats residing in Bangkok [5, 6] and 8.3% of farm cats residing to the west of Thailand [7]
The objective of the present study was to compare the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pet cats and semidomesticated cats within and in the vicinity of Bangkok, Thailand, using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT)
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses worldwide. Cats become infected after ingesting infected tissue cysts. The objective of the present study was to compare the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pet cats and semi-domesticated cats in the Bangkok metropolitan region. A survey of Toxoplasma infection was conducted in 260 cats (median age [range]: 3 years [10 months–10 years]; 155 females and 105 males) by collecting blood samples from 130 client-owned pet cats and 130 semi-domesticated cats within and around Bangkok during 2016–2017 using indirect fluorescence antibody tests. Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite with a worldwide distribution. It is capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans, and is estimated to infect 4 to 77% of the human population [1]. It is possible that semi-domesticated cats play a significant role as reservoir hosts for T. gondii for humans as well as pet cats. Antibodies to T. gondii in Thailand was 2.6% in women [9], 25.0% in pregnant women [10] and 6.4% in cat owners [11], respectively
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