Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the Pennsylvania bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus)

J Wildl Dis. 2006 Jan;42(1):188-91. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-42.1.188.

Abstract

From 2000 to 2002 bobcat blood samples were collected, in association with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, during the recently reactivated bobcat hunting and trapping season. Sex, age, and county/township data were recorded for each animal. Blood was tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using the modified agglutination test. In the 2-yr study, 131 bobcat samples were collected in 14 Pennsylvania counties and 109 (83%) of these had antibodies to T. gondii (titer>or=25). A two-way Chi-Square test (95% confidence interval) yielded no significance differences in antibody prevalence between males (83%) and females (88%) or adults (83%) and juveniles (77%). All 14 counties had at least one bobcat with antibodies to T. gondii.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / parasitology
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Female
  • Lynx / parasitology*
  • Male
  • Pennsylvania / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan