title: Serologic detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Rattus spp collected from three different sites in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines.
abstract: Acute and chronic cases of toxoplasmosis in Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus mindanensis caught in agricultural, commercial and residential sites in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines were determined serologically. Fifty-eight percent of R. norvegicus and 42.0% of R. r. mindanensis were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies (Abs). Infection was higher in male rats, and those caught in the commercial site had 100.0% seropositivity. Thirty percent of the R. norvegicus and 51.0% R. rattus mindanensis had acute infection, with 1:64-1:128 Abs titer. Seventy percent of the R. norvegicus and 49.0% of R. rattus mindanensis were chronically-infected with Abs titer 1:256-1:2048 and 1:256-1024, respectively. The association between the presence of infection with the rat gender and species and their collection sites was insignificant (p>0.05). In a related study, however, mice experimentally-inoculated brain tissue homogenate obtained from chronically-infected Rattus spp, manifested differences in the onset as well as, severity of infection which was histopathologically evaluated, suggestive of a possible difference in T. gondii parasite strain(s) infecting different rat populations.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, College of Science, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines. ccsalibay@mail.dasma.dlsu.edu.ph
authors.forename: Cristina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Salibay
authors.forename: Florencia G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Claveria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D051381:Rats / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology