title: Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and risk factors for seropositivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to estimate Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and to evaluate risk factors for seropositivity. Additionally, serum biochemistry and haematological variables for T gondii seropositive and seronegative cats were compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of surplus sera submitted to the Central Laboratory, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, was collected. The samples were from healthy cats and cats with a variety of diseases. Analyses for IgG antibodies to T gondii were performed with a commercial direct agglutination test, with 1:40 as the threshold value. For risk factor analysis a logistic regression model of the relationship between predictors and the outcome was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety-six of 478 cats were seropositive for T gondii, and the estimated seroprevalence in the study sample was 41.0% (95% confidence interval 36.6-45.4). Compared with domestic cats, pedigree cats had reduced risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 0.42). Males had increased risk (OR 1.63) compared with females. The effect of age was highly significant, and an increase in the cats' age across the interquartile range (IQR; 52-160 months/4-13 years of age) doubled the risk of Toxoplasma seropositivity (OR 2.11). The risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity among cats living in Oslo was significantly reduced (OR 0.51) when compared with the rest of Norway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pet cats in Norway appear to be commonly exposed to T gondii. Signalment and geographical region influenced the odds of Toxoplasma seropositivity, whereas health status did not.
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway bente.saevik@nmbu.no.
authors: Bente Kristin
authors: BK
authors: Sævik
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Randi Ingebjørg
authors: RI
authors: Krontveit
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Kristine P
authors: KP
authors: Eggen
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Malmberg
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Stein I
authors: SI
authors: Thoresen
authors: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Oslo, Norway Norwegian Kennel Club, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Kristin W
authors: KW
authors: Prestrud
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan