Seroprevalence against Toxoplasma gondii in domiciled cats in Japan

J Vet Med Sci. 1998 Sep;60(9):1001-4. doi: 10.1292/jvms.60.1001.

Abstract

A serological survey with latex agglutination test to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was conducted on 800 serum samples collected from domiciled cats at animal hospitals in various areas of Japan. The overall prevalence was 6.0% (48/800). Among 48 positive individuals, there was no specific distribution of strength of antibody titers; the titers were 1:64 in 8 cats, 1:128 in 12, 1:256 in 8, 1:512 in 10, 1:1,024 in 8 and 1:2,048 in 2. The maximum prevalence was 15.4% in 13 cats at 17-23 yrs old group, whereas all were negative in 58 cats aged 12-16 yrs. The age groups in the order of higher prevalence were 8, 4, 10, 5, 3, and 7 yrs, showing no aging effect to the prevalence. In terms of rearing conditions of those cats, they were classified into 4 groups, i.e., indoor, free, outdoor, and others. The prevalence in the outdoor group (11.1%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the free group (4.8%). Epidemiological aspects observed in the domiciled cats were different from those reported in the stray cats.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / analysis
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cat Diseases / immunology
  • Cats
  • Female
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Latex Fixation Tests / veterinary
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan