title: Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sera of domestic cats from Guarulhos and São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were determined in serum samples of 502 domestic cats from Brazil by the modified agglutination test (MAT), using formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. Antibodies (MAT > or = 1:20) were found in 132 (26.3%) of 502 cats. With respect to origin, antibodies were found in 26.7% of 430 stray cats from São Paulo, 10% of 40 stray cats from Guarulhos, and 40.6% of 32 cats from a cat breeder in São Paulo. Antibody titers were: 1:20 in 10 cats, 1:25 in 40 cats, 1:50 in 73 cats, and > or = 1:500 in 9 cats. Exposure rates of T. gondii in cats from São Paulo, Brazil are similar to that in domestic cats in North America.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: J C R
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gennari
authors.forename: A M A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ragozo
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Amajones
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magnabosco
authors.forename: L E O
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Yai
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Neto
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan