Gondii Antibodies In Cats Research Articles

Seroepidemiological Survey of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Rolim de Moura, State of Rondônia, North Brazil.

Epidemiological studies on infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in cats in the North Region of Brazil are scarce. We intended to assess the seroprevalence in cats of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies, as well as the associated risk factors that may lead them to contract these infections in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondônia, North Brazil. For this, blood serum samples of 100 cats from different regions of the city were evaluated. To assess possible factors associated with infections, epidemiological questionnaires were applied to tutors. The Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) was performed for anti-T. gondii (cutoff 1:16) and anti-N. caninum (cutoff 1:50) antibodies. After identifying the positive samples, antibody titration was performed. The results showed the prevalence of 26% (26/100) of anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titration varying between 1:16 to 1:8192. There were no factors associated with the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the multivariate analysis in this study. There was no occurrence of seropositive cats for anti-N. caninum. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats in Rolim de Moura, state of Rondônia, North Brazil. However, the evaluated animals did not present anti-N. caninum antibodies. Therefore, knowing that T. gondii has different transmission forms, we emphasize the importance of spreading more information to the population about cat's relevance in the T. gondii life cycle and how to avoid the parasite transmission and proliferation.

Comparative performance of five recombinant and chimeric antigens in a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats

Felids are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, being the only hosts that can spread the infection through oocyst shedding in their feces. The elevated presence of this parasite in the domestic cat (Felis catus), and its close contact with humans, make it necessary to obtain reliable diagnostic methods to detect positive animals as a public health measure. For this reason, in this study, the diagnostic performance of five different recombinant antigen-based techniques was assessed to diagnose T. gondii infection in cat blood plasma samples. Specifically, four T. gondii recombinant antigens (GRA7, truncated GRA7, SAG2, and truncated SAG2) and a chimeric antigen (SAG1-GRA8) were used. A time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) was developed for each antigen, and the results of each of these techniques were compared with those obtained by a commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and a modified agglutination test (MAT) as reference techniques. The TRFIA based on SAG1-GRA8 antigen showed better discrimination between seropositive and seronegative cats (p < 0.001), as well as a better area under the curve (0.95), sensitivity (93.6%), and specificity (89.5%) values for the optimal cut-off, versus the other TRFIAs. In addition, SAG1-GRA8 TRFIA showed substantial agreement (kappa value = 0.78) and a moderate significant correlation (Spearman’s correlation: r = 0.62, p < 0.001) compared with the reference techniques. On the other hand, since plasma samples were obtained from 101 cats in Bangkok city and four of them were Neospora caninum seropositive by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT), this is the first time that anti-N. caninum antibodies are detected in cats in Thailand. In conclusion, our study highlights that the TRFIA with TgSAG1-GRA8 antigen is an accurate and recommended diagnostic technique for detecting anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats.

Soroprevalência de Toxoplasma gondii em gatos domésticos na região tropical do Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats of the Serra da Tiririca State Park region using the IFAT to evaluate the sex and age variables. The cats were domiciled in the region of Serra da Tiririca State Park (PESET-RJ), Rio de Janeiro. Between 2015 and 2016, a total of 86 blood samples were collected from 35 female and 51 male semi-domiciled cats that were attended to by a spay-neuter program of UFF. Samples were evaluated for anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G by the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT) with a cut-off point of 1:40. Of the samples analyzed, 29.07% (25/86) presented anti-T gondii antibodies. There was no significant association (P&gt; 0.05) between the variables sex and age of the animals with serology results. The results obtained in this study suggest that T. gondii has a considerable distribution among the cats of the studied region (PESET-RJ). This is the first report of the seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats from this area. Age and gender were not considered risk factors for infection by T. gondii in this group of animals studied.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Cats in Espirito Santo State, Brazil

Abstract Objectives Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite found worldwide. It can infect all warm-blooded animals and an estimated 30% of the human population carries the parasite. Cats are important in the epidemiology of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts and humans become infected by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat, consuming food or drink contaminated with oocysts, or by accidentally ingesting oocysts in the environment. Some outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans have been associated with oocyst contamination. Cats probably play a major role in transmitting T. gondii through faecal contamination of soil, food or water because they can excrete millions of oocysts in a short period. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats and to determine the risk factors associated with seropositivity in the regions of Vitoria, in state of Espirito Santo (ES), Brazil. Methods Serum samples from 79 cats from Zoonosis Control Centers and temporary shelters were evaluated, as well as epidemiological data on origin, sex, breed and age of each animal. Anti-T. gondii IgG immunoglobulins were analyzed by Immunoenzymatic Assay (ELISA) and Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFI). Results The serological prevalence in cats by ELISA was 15.2% (12/79) and 7.6% (6/79) by (IFI). Among the serum of cats, although there was agreement between the tests (k = 0.63), they were significantly different (P = 0.041). The results demonstrated high contamination of the environment by the parasite, suggesting a high risk of human and other animal infection by cat feces. Conclusions This is the first study to determine the frequency of anti-T. gondii and the risk of food contamination by cats feces in urban gardens in Espirito Santo state. Funding Sources CAPES and FAPES.

Detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in cats using an immunochromatographic test based on GRA7 antigen.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. The GRA7 of T. gondii (TgGRA7) is an essential component of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and PV membrane surrounding the tachyzoites and the cyst wall of the bradyzoites. While it has been widely employed as antigen for ELISA, there is only one study that has reported its potential as antigen for immunochromatographic test (ICT) in pigs. There is no study yet documenting its potential for ICT serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection in cats. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of an ICT using TgGRA7 in the detection of Toxoplasma infections in 100 cats and compared the results with iELISAs using TgGRA7 and lysate antigens of T. gondii strains, RH, PLK, and VEG. Our results revealed that TgGRA7-ICT is a reliable test for the diagnosis of anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats, producing comparable results as conventional serological methods. This study is the first report on the use of TgGRA7 as ICT antigen for the serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection in cats.

Serologic survey of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats (Felis catus) sold at live animal markets in Southwestern Nigeria

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite causing infection in humans and a wide range of mammals, with cats being the final and only host that excrete T. gondii-resistant oocysts to the environment. This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in cats sold at Live Animal Markets (LAMs) in Ibadan, Osogbo and Offa, Southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were randomly collected from 226 cats at these markets and separated sera were tested for the presence of antibodies (IgG) to T. gondii, using two-fold dilutions from 1:20 to 1:320 by the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). Attributes were analysed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests at P<0.05. Median age of cats was 4.0 months (range: 1–36 months). Of the 226 samples tested, only 10 (4.4%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies at the cut-off titre of 1:20. Nine (4.0%) gave a titre of 1:20; one (0.4%) gave 1:80 while none was positive at 1:40, 1:160 and 1:320 dilutions. Age and gender of cats was not significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Our results showed low prevalence of T. gondii infection in cats sold at LAMs in studied area and suggests confinement as an efficient way of limiting exposure of cats to infection sources.

Evaluation of an immunoblotting test based on whole tachyzoite lysate for diagnosis of humoral response of domestic cats infected with Toxoplasma gondii, Rh strain

Summary This study was aimed to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats infected with Rh strain of T. gondii by using an immunoblotting method. For this, cats were experimentally infected using tachyzoites harvested from Vero cell cultures. Tachyzoites were then lysed and transferred to polyacrylamide gels followed by blotting to PVDF membranes. An immunoblotting was performed using these membranes to detect IgG antibodies. Protein bands were detected in regions related to the presence of T. gondii surface antigens, dense granular or rhoptry proteins. No positive bands were detected in serum samples of kittens that received only Vero cell lysates (controls). Positive or negative results were in concordance to the results of IFAT. The results of this study revealed that whole tachyzoite antigen based immunoblotting is an appropriate diagnostic test for serological detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in recently infected kittens with this Apicomplexan parasite.

Serological Evaluation of Experimental Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Cats by Using Immunoblotting Based on an Affinity Purified Surface Antigen

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that infects human and almost all warm-blooded animals. The life cycle of the parasite includes an asexual reproduction in intermediate hosts (Mammals and birds) and a sexual reproduction in definitive hosts (Felidae). Cats are both the intermediate and the definitive host for T. gondii. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-T. gondii antibodies in cats by using an immunoblot method based on a major surface antigen; SAG1. Six sero-negative kittens were infected intra-peritoneally by Rh strain of T. gondii. Serum samples were collected and evaluated for the presence of IgG antibodies by using two techniques; immunoblotting and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).SAG1 based immunoblotting was able to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies at least eight days after infection. Comparative evaluation showed that this method is as sensitive as IFAT to diagnose T. gondii infection in cats.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats in maiduguri, northeastern nigeria

AbstractCats play an important role in the spread of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only animals that excrete resistant oocysts into the environment. Prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria was determined using the latex agglutination test (LAT). Thirty eight cats (36.2%) were seropositive using a cut off point of 1:64 with antibody titer ranging from 1:64 to 1:1024. Seroprevalence was higher in older animals and stray cats. Age and ownership status of cats were identified as risk factors but not gender or area of capture.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. Antibodies in Cats from Pennsylvania

Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and Bartonella spp. were determined in sera from 210 domestic cats from Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 41 (19.5%) of the 210 cats with titers of 1:25 in 4, 1:50 in 9, 1:100 in 7, 1:200 in 3, 1:400 in 3, 1:800 in 5, 1:1,600 in 4, and 1:3,200 or higher in 6. For T. gondii, seroprevalence increased with age of the cat: 15 of 113 (13.2 %) were seropositive compared with 26 of 97 (26.7%) older than 11 mo. Of these 210 cats, 54 (25.7%) were positive for Bartonella spp. antibodies, with titers of 1:64 in 20, 1:128 in 21, 1:256 in 9, and 1:512 in 4. Seventeen cats had antibodies to both organisms. There was no correlation between T. gondii and Bartonella spp. seropositivity. Overall the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats in this population is much lower compared with those reported in other localities in the United States and other countries.

Investigation of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Cats of the Ankara Region of Turkey Using the Sabin-Feldman Dye Test and an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test

Blood samples from 99 cats from the Ankara province of Turkey were examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody with the use of both the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT) and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Forty of the 99 sera (40.3%) were positive for antibodies against T. gondii with the DT, whereas the IFAT assay detected antibodies in 34 (34.3%). The study also evaluated 3 factors for their potential association with the presence of T. gondii antibody: age (<1 yr, 1-2 yr, and >2 yr), gender (female vs. male), and outdoor access (stray, owned with outdoor access, or indoor only). The DT detected antibodies in 3 cats under 1 yr of age, 22 cats between 1 and 2 yr, and 15 cats older than 2 yr, whereas the IFAT found 1, 18, and 15 cats positive for antibodies, respectively, in each of these categories. Of 61 female cats, 27 (44.2%) were positive by the DT; and of 38 male cats, 13 (34%) were positive by the DT. For the IFAT, 24 female cats (39.3%) and 10 male cats (26.3%) were positive. The percent seropositivity in indoor cats was 30.8% by the DT and 23.1% by the IFAT. In stray cats, the percent seropositivity was 52.8% by the DT and 41.7% by the IFAT. Antibody presence was significantly associated with age, but not with outdoor access.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Cats From Durango City, Mexico

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in sera from 105 domestic cats from Durango City, Mexico. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to this parasite were found in 21% of the 105 cats, with titers of 1:25 in 3 cats, 1:50 in 4 cats, 1:200 in 5 cats, 1:400 in 2 cats, 1:800 in 2 cats, 1:1,600 in 4 cats, and 1:3,200 or higher in 2 cats. Cats older than 1 yr had a significantly higher frequency of infection than that found in cats younger than 0.5 yr (41 vs. 13.2%, respectively; odds ratio = 4.55; 95% CI = 1.24-17.18; P = 0.01). Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats in Durango, Mexico, is much lower compared with those reported in other countries.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Cats and Pigs From Rural Western Amazon, Brazil

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were assayed in sera of 63 cats and 80 pigs from 71 farms located at Rondônia State, Western Amazon, Brazil, by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies (MAT > or = 1: 25) were found in 55 of 63 cats (87.3%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 2, 1:100 in 7, 1:200 in 1, 1:400 in 2, 1:800 in 9, 1:1,600 in 6, and 1:3,200 or higher in 26 cats. By IFAT, antibodies were found in 55 cats (87.3%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 1, 1:100 in 4, 1:200 in 4, 1: 400 in 1, 1:800 in 13, 1:1,600 in 12, and 1:3,200 or higher in 18 cats. In pig sera, by MAT, antibodies were found in 30 of 80 pigs (37.5%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 3, 1:100 in 2, 1:200 in 8, 1:400 in 3, 1:800 in 5, 1:1,600 in 3, and 1:3,200 or higher in 4 pigs. By using the IFAT (titers > or = 1:64), antibodies were found in 35 (43.7%) pigs. The ingestion of undercooked tissues of infected pigs can be a source of T. gondii infection for humans and cats. However, the high seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats from the Amazon seems most likely to be indicative of high contamination of the environment by oocysts.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats in the western part of Great Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993

The serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was determined, using indirect haemagglutination assay, in the sera of 169 cats. Classification by age, sex, alimentary, hunting and roaming habits was made in conjunction with the number of cats living in each house. An important prevalence was detected (19.5%) from 1 year of age and statistical significance was found in those animals that had predatory habits or lived in groups.

The epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Iowa swine farms with an emphasis on the roles of free-living mammals

Multiparous sows from 19 central Iowa swine farms were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by the modified direct agglutination test. Antibody titers of 1:32 or greater were considered positive. Rodents, domestic cats, opossums ( Didelphis virginiana), raccoons ( Procyon lotor) and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis) were live-trapped on each farm and similarly tested for antibodies. The overall prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in the species tested was 39 273 (14.3%) swine, 31 74 (41.9%) cats, 2 588 (0.3%) house mice ( Mus musculus), 0 21 mice of the genus Peromyscus, 0 9 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), 1 34 (2.9%) opossums, 4 14 (28.6%) raccoons and 2 7 (28.6%) striped skunds. The overall prevalence was significantly greater in adult cats versus juvenile cats, adult male ccats versus adult female cats, and adult raccoons versus juvenile raccoons. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in sows was compared with the prevalence in each non-swine species on a farm basis in order to identify existing associations. The prevalence in sows (and each of the non-swine species.) was also analyzed on a farm basis for association with farm characteristics or swine management practices, including the degree of confinement of swine, population size and average parity of breeding female swine, estimated cat population size, and estimated mouse and rat abundance. Average titers of seropositive animals were compared on a species basis. The prevalence in sows which were totally and continuously confined was lower than that in sows which were not totally and continuously confined. The prevalence in sows from farms with an average parity of less than 2.0 was significantly lower than that in sows from farms with an average parity of 2.0 or greater. These results suggested that the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in swine increased with age and that prevalence in swine could be reduced through total confinement. No associations could be established between prevalence is sows and prevalence in non-swine species or other farm characteristics/swine managment practices. However, the high prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats suggested thet fetal contamination of the environment by cats may be the most significant source of toxoplasmosis for swine. The extremely low prevalence of T. gondii anti-bodies in house suggested that this species was not an important source of T. gondii for swine in Iowa.

Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Cats: Detection by Indirect Hemagglutination and Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Tests

The distribution of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats is usually reported as specific antibody titers detected by the Sabin-Feldman dye test, indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, or indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. The dye test has been compared to the IHA (Jacobs and Lunde, 1957, Journal of Parasitology 43: 308314) and IFA tests (Walton et al., 1966, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 15: 149-152) in humans and to the IFA test in cats (Claus et al., 1977, Journal of Parasitology 63: 266). The IHA and IFA (using anti-cat serum) tests also have been compared in cats (Behymer et al., 1973, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 162: 959-963). This report compares the detection of T. gondii antibodies by the IHA and IFA (using either anticat whole serum or anti-cat IgG) tests in 324 cats from Beirut, Lebanon. From September 1980 through July 1983 (35 mo) 324 domestic stray and owned cats in Beirut, Lebanon were tested for antibodies to T. gondii. The data from the 2 groups of cats were combined because the prevalence of cats with antibody titers >1:64 was not significantly different between stray and owned adult cats in Beirut (Deeb et al., Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, in press). A commercially available kit (Wampole Laboratories, Div. of Carter-Wallace Inc., Cranbury, New Jersey 08512) was used for the IHA test. Sera were screened at a dilution of 1:64 and titrated using two-fold serial dilutions to a dilution of 1:2,048. Sera were absorbed with unsensitized, stabilized sheep erythrocytes to remove nonspecific agglutinins. The IFA test was modified from Kagan and Norman (1976. In Manual of clinical immunology, pp. 382-385) and performed using lyophilized T. gondii organisms, immunofluorescence test slides, and buffered solutions obtained from bio-Merieux, Marcy l'Etoile, 69260 Charbonnieres les Bains, France. Two-fold serial dilutions of sera from 1:64 to 1:2,048 were made using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.2. A 1:32 dilution of fluorescein-labeled goat anticat IgG or anti-cat whole serum, containing 0.2% Evans blue (Cappel Laboratories, Div. of Biological Corp. of America, Cochranville, Pennsylvania 19330) was added. Both of the fluorescein-labeled products were filtered through a 0.45 ,um membrane filter (Millipore Corp., U.S.A.). The fluorescein-labeled products measured the same titer when used on a known anti-toxoplasma cat serum control. Slides were examined with a fluorescent microscope, using known positive and negative cat sera as controls. A positive reaction consisted of green fluorescence around the entire periphery of the parasite; a negative reaction was polar but not circumferential fluores-