title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and concurrent Bartonella spp., feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Egyptian cats.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLv) are related to human immunodeficiency virus and human leukemia virus, respectively, and these viruses are immunosuppressive. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii , Bartonella spp., FIV, as well as FeLv and Dirofilaria immitis antigens was determined in sera from feral cats (Felis catus) from Cairo, Egypt. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 172 (95.5%) of the 180 cats with titers of 1∶5 in 9, 1∶10 in 9, 1∶20 in 3, 1∶40 in 5, 1∶80 in 5, 1∶160 in 15, 1∶320 in 22, and 1∶640 or higher in 104. Thus, 57.4% had high T. gondii titers. Antibodies to Bartonella spp. were found in 105 (59.6%) of 178, with titers of 1∶64 in 45, 1∶128 in 39, 1∶256 in 13, 1∶512 in 3, 1∶1,024 in 4, and 1∶2,048 in 1 cat. Antibodies to FIV were detected in 59 (33.9%) of 174 cats. Of 174 cats tested, antigens to FeLv, and D. immitis were detected in 8 (4.6%) and 6 (3.4%) cats, respectively. The results indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii, Bartonella spp., and FIV infections in cats from Cairo, Egypt. This is the first report of Bartonella spp., and D. immitis infection in cats in Egypt.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350 jitender.dubey@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Al-Kappany
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.forename: O C H
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Abu-Elwafa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilali
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001473:Bartonella / Q000276:immunology; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D000956:Antigens, Viral