title: Cross-sectional survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in colony cats from urban Florence (Italy).
abstract: Cats are the key species in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, even if the proportion of subjects excreting oocysts is low. The aim of the present paper was to obtain information about seroprevalence, oocyst shedding rate and presence of T gondii DNA in faeces collected from an urban population of colony cats in Florence (Tuscany). Fifty European shorthair feral cats were examined for anti-T gondii specific antibodies by a modified agglutination test (MAT), and for oocysts by microscopic examination and for faecal protozoal DNA, by means of a nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) protocol. Twenty-two out of 50 serum samples (44%) were MAT positive. T gondii oocysts were not detected in any of the examined faecal samples. Eight out of 50 faecal specimens (16%) were n-PCR positive and sequencing of the bands was specific for T gondii. Detection by combination of the two methods was higher than single techniques and enhanced the detection of T gondii up to 48%. Our results suggest that the use of MAT plus PCR in faeces may be the best choice for diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis. Further studies to ascertain the real infectivity of the copro-PCR positive subjects are required.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Profilassi ed Igiene degli Alimenti, Viale delle Piagge, 2, Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy. manciant@vet.unipi.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancianti
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nardoni
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ariti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parlanti
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Papini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D033661:Oocysts; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan