Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging and feral cats on Amami Oshima Island, Japan

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 79; no. 11; pp. 1853 - 1856
• Main Authors: MATSUU, Aya, YOKOTA, Shin-ichi, ITO, Keiko, MASATANI, Tatsunori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 2017; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Endangered species; Female; Feral populations; free-ranging and feral cat; Immunoprecipitation; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Parasitology; Population studies; Prevalence; Protozoa; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Wildlife conservation; zoonotic diseases; Oshima Island; zoonotic diseases; Toxoplasma gondii; free-ranging and feral cat
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0359

On Amami Oshima Island, free-ranging and feral cats are harmful to wildlife populations. In this study, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in these cats was examined using a newly developed Gaussia luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay. Of 1,363 cats, 123 cats (9.0%) was positive for T. gondii. The prevalence was significantly different in different areas; among cats in the rural area, where many wild animals live, including endangered species, T. gondii infection was more prevalent than in the urban area of the island. This finding indicates a possible risk to wildlife of infection from free-ranging and feral cats. Therefore, management of cats is important for wildlife conservation.