title: Toxoplasmosis: a serological survey in Ontario wildlife.
abstract: Sera from seven species of wild animals in Ontario were examined for antibody to Toxoplasma gondii using the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Of 158 sera tested, 53% of the red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 56% of the striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), 78% of the coyotes (Canis latrans), 33% of the black bears (Ursus americanus), 18% of the short tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and none of the field voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) had antibody. Antibody to T. gondii was present in sera from wild animals captured throughout southern Ontario. A positive linear correlation between prevalence of toxoplasmosis and age of fox pups was calculated (p < 0.005).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D046029:Coyotes; D005589:Foxes; D012889:Mephitidae; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012788:Shrews; D013045:Species Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001503:Ursidae
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan