Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in domestic cats from rural Ohio.
Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were determined in serum samples from 275 domestic cats from a mobile spay and neuter clinic from 8 counties in Ohio. The modified agglutination test incorporating whole formalinized tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol was used to determine antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 133 (48%) out of 275 cats: in titers of 1:25 in 24, 1:50 in 37, and 1:500 or more in 72. The highest prevalence (62% of 78) was in outdoor cats. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in 48% of cats suggests wide-spread contamination of the rural environment with oocysts.
Parasite Biology, Epidemiology, and Systematics Laboratory, Building 1001, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, USA. jdubey@anri.barc.usda.gov
J P
JP
Dubey
W J A
WJ
Saville
J F
JF
Stanek
S M
SM
Reed
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan