Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats from Mexico City

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 157; no. 3; pp. 310 - 313
• Main Authors: Besné-Mérida, Alejandro, Figueroa-Castillo, Juan Antonio, Martínez-Maya, José Juan, Luna-Pastén, Héctor, Calderón-Segura, Esther, Correa, Dolores
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 07.11.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier
• Subjects: animal age; animal housing; Animals; cat diseases; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - immunology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; diet; disease detection; disease prevalence; disease transmission; ELISA; gender; immune response; immunoglobulin G; Mexico - epidemiology; Mexico City; Odds Ratio; Risk; risk factors; Seroprevalence; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - immunology; urban areas; Mexico; Cats; Toxoplasma gondii; Mexico City; Seroprevalence; ELISA
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.06.019

In order to determine the frequency of anti- Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in domestic cats and to identify the possible risk factors, 169 domestic cats from 16 municipalities of Mexico City were studied. Their serum was tested by indirect ELISA and the owners answered a questionnaire about age, gender, litter box hygiene, contact with other cats, housing (indoor, outdoor) and diet. We found 37 (21.8%) seropositive cats to T. gondii with an increase in frequency related to age. Main risk factors were female gender, feeding the pet with raw meat and infrequent cleaning of the litter box. The frequency of T. gondii antibodies found in domestic cats of Mexico City suggests active transmission within an urban environment.