Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in captive felids in Thailand.
The prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii was investigated by commercial latex agglutination test kit (Toxocheck-MT 'Eiken') in captive felids maintained at zoos and a wildlife breeding center in different geographic regions of Thailand. Sera from a total of 136 captive felids of 12 species was obtained between 2002 and 2004. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was found in 21 of 136 (15.4%) felids. The titers varied from 1:64 (eight samples) to 1:8192 (one sample). The seroprevalence in different geographic regions were from 0% in the northern area to 23% in the southern area. This study suggested a widespread exposure of captive felids to T. gondii in Thailand and this is the first report of serologic analysis for T. gondii in captive felids in Southeast Asia.
Thiangtum
Khongsak
K
Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand. fvetkot@yahoo.com
Nimsuphun
Burin
B
Pinyopanuwat
Nongnuch
N
Chimnoi
Wissanuwat
W
Tunwattana
Wanchai
W
Tongthainan
Daraka
D
Jittapalapong
Sathaporn
S
Rukkwamsuk
Theera
T
Maruyama
Soichi
S
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D045989:Felidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan