title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild carnivores from Spain.
abstract: Serum samples from 282 wild carnivores from different regions of Spain were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test using a cut-off value of 1:25. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 22 of 27 (81.5%) of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), 3 of 6 European wildcats (Felis silvestris), 66 of 102 (64.7%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 15 of 32 (46.9%) wolves (Canis lupus), 26 of 37 (70.3%) Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), 17 of 20 (85.0%) stone martens (Martes foina), 4 of 4 pine martens (Martes martes), 6 of 6 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 4 of 4 polecats (Mustela putorius), 1 of 1 ferret (Mustela putorius furo), 13 of 21 (61.9%) European genets (Genetta genetta), and 13 of 22 (59.1%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon). Serological results indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii among wild carnivores in Spain. The high T. gondii seroprevalence in Iberian lynx and the European wildcat reported here may be of epidemiologic significance because seropositive cats might have shed oocysts.
authors: Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sobrino
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Cabezón
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Millán
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pabón
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Arnal
authors: D F
authors: DF
authors: Luco
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Gortázar
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Dubey
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Almeria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan