title: Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in lynx (Lynx canadensis) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) from Québec, Canada.
abstract: The seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in trapped lynx (Lynx canadensis) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) from Québec, Canada. Forty-seven of 106 (44%) lynx and 4 of 10 (40%) bobcats had positive titers for T. gondii (> or = 25) by means of the modified agglutination test incorporating mercaptoethanol and formalin-fixed tachyzoites. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in adult lynx than in juvenile lynx. The presence of antibodies to T. gondii in lynx and bobcats suggests that this organism is widespread in the wild and that exposure to wild felids and game animals from Québec may represent a potential source of infection for humans.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labelle
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mikaelian
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blanchette
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafond
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St-Onge
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martineau
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002335:Carnivora / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan