title: [Frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats from Valdivia city, Chile].
abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis. The importance of the cat as related to this parasitosis lies in the fact that it is not only the definite host of the parasite, but responsible for its dissemination through the release of oocysts, which subsequently infect both humans and other animals. The objective of this study was to determine the serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the feline population of the city of Valdivia (Chile) and to establish the possible epidemiological implications of this prevalence. With these goals in mind the technique of indirect immunofluorescence was implemented to detect anti- T. gondii species--specific IgG. Blood samples from 97 cats (selected using a directed sampling process) from different sectors of Valdivia were collected. The sample included 46 males and 51 females of different ages, Positive and negative control sera obtained from de United States were used to verify the results, observed by UV microscopy. The anti-feline IgG antibody was used as directed by the manufacturer (Sigma). Of the 97 selected cats, 32 were found to be positive with a titre higher than 1:4, a prevalence of 33.0%. The number of infected males as compared to the number of infected females was found to be statistically insignificant, using the chi-square analysis with p less than 0.1. In contrast, a definite correlation between age and seropositivity was found; infection levels were higher in older animals. These results are consistent with those obtained in different studies on this topic that have been performed in different parts of the world. However, they would seem to be in conflict with other, similar studies that have been done recently in Chile; this may be due to the fact that the cats selected for this study were exposed to different climatic conditions than those examined in previous works. In conclusion, it has been determined that in Valdivia exist cats infected by T. gondii, which indicate the presence of the necessary epidemiological conditions for the persistence of this parasitic cycle and the source of infection for humans and other animals.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencas Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad Autral de Chile.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovalle
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thibauth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G