Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. infection in cats from Brazil.
A total of 386 feline blood samples from Brazil were collected and analyzed by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. antibodies. Specific antitoxoplasma IgG were found in 63 of 386 (16.3%) cats and immunoglobulin G against Leishmania spp. was detected in two serum samples. The overall prevalence was significantly higher in adult cats than in juvenile cats for T. gondii infection. There were no significant differences between positivity and gender or breed. The frequency of T. gondii antibodies found in domestic cats of Brazil suggests active transmission within an urban environment. This study proved the occurrence of two important protozoan zoonosis in felines from Brazilian endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis.
Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo 14884-900, Brazil. Electronic address: danielcardia@hotmail.com.
Daniel Fontana Ferreira
DF
Cardia
Lucilene Granuzzio
LG
Camossi
Luiz da Silveira
Lda S
Neto
Helio
H
Langoni
Katia Denise Saraiva
KD
Bresciani
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
Feline; Leishmaniasis; Sorology; Toxoplasmosis; Zoonosis