title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Dogs in Tehran, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii infects a wide range of animals; felines are definitive hosts and other animals including the dogs are intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Tehran, capital of Iran and to investigate possible associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundreds ninety six serum samples were collected during 2007-8 from the dogs. Collected samples were tested using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in dilutions of 1:16 and more. All procedures were carried out in Shahrekord University, Iran. All the data were analyzed using SPSS software, qui square test with confidence interval of 0.95.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From evaluated samples, 89 (22.47%) were positive in titers of at least 1:16. further evaluations in other dilutions showed positive results in dilutions of maximum 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, 1:128 and 1:256 in 38, 29, 15, 2 and 5 dogs respectively. Investigation of the role of risk factors showed no sex predisposition while infection rate was significantly higher in dogs older than one year old. Living places were of significant importance; infection rate was significantly higher in stray or guard dogs in compare with household dogs (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relatively high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Tehran shows high environmental contamination. It is recommended that the dogs with suspected clinical signs be tested for T. gondii infection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseininejad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmasi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selk-Ghaffari
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khorrami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shojaee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azizzadeh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirshokraei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aliari