Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the Pennsylvania bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus).
From 2000 to 2002 bobcat blood samples were collected, in association with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, during the recently reactivated bobcat hunting and trapping season. Sex, age, and county/township data were recorded for each animal. Blood was tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using the modified agglutination test. In the 2-yr study, 131 bobcat samples were collected in 14 Pennsylvania counties and 109 (83%) of these had antibodies to T. gondii (titer>or=25). A two-way Chi-Square test (95% confidence interval) yielded no significance differences in antibody prevalence between males (83%) and females (88%) or adults (83%) and juveniles (77%). All 14 counties had at least one bobcat with antibodies to T. gondii.
Mucker
Eric M
EM
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology, Weyandt Hall, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705, USA. Eric.Mucker@det.amedd.army.mil
Dubey
J P
JP
Lovallo
Matthew J
MJ
Humphreys
Jan G
JG
D000367:Age Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D046008:Lynx / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan