Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Belgian house cats

Vet Parasitol. 2008 Oct 20;157(1-2):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.07.001. Epub 2008 Jul 17.

Abstract

Five hundred and sixty seven sera of healthy house cats aged 3 months to 7 years, were examined for the presence of anti-toxoplasma antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay and compared to SAG1 and TLA enzyme linked immunosorbent assays as alternative test. Twenty-five percent of cats tested positive for IgG and/or IgM. Seroprevalence increased with age from 2% below 12 months of age up to 44% at age 7. Sensitivities of SAG1 and TLA ELISA were 84.1% and 88.6%, respectively. Peak levels in seroprevalence were correlated to increased IgG titers in TLA ELISA. Our results suggest that T. gondii infections are common in house cats and that there is a high chance for a negative cat to seroconvert in its second life-year.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cats
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • aginactin protein, Dictyostelium