title: Toxoplasma gondii survey in cats from two environments of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by Modified Agglutination Test on sera and filter-paper.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan with a worldwide distribution, in warm-blood animals, including humans. Local conditions and environmental disturbances may influence transmission dynamics of a zoonotic agent. This study evaluates the epidemiology of T. gondii based on toxoplasmosis prevalence in two populations of cats living in distinct urbanization conditions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  
  
  
  Among 372 domestic cats sampled, 265 were from a public shelter located downtown Rio and 107 from a relatively preserved wild environment in a residential area. Sera and eluates from dried blood spots were tested for detection of IgG antibodies against T. gondii by modified agglutination test (MAT).
  
  
  
  Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 32/265 (12.08%) animals from the public shelter and in 4/107 (3.74%) cats from the residential area. Identical results were observed for sera and eluates.
  
  
  
  Filter paper provides a reliable accurate alternative storage option when conditions of sample collection and transportation in the field are unfavorable. The significantly lower prevalence in the residential area is discussed in terms of environmental, biological and behavioral features.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France. pfbolais@yahoo.com.br.|Toxoplasmosis and other Protozoosis Laboratory of Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil. pfbolais@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Paula F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bolais
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vignoles
authors.affiliation: Toxoplasmosis and other Protozoosis Laboratory of Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pamela F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Quatro Elementos Veterinary Medicine and Environmental consulting, Rua Coronel Moreira Cesar, 211 Bl. 2/502, Niteroi, 24.230-052, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France.
authors.forename: Abdelkrim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aroussi
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France.
authors.forename: Khadja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dardé
authors.affiliation: Toxoplasmosis and other Protozoosis Laboratory of Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, 21045-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Amendoeira
authors.affiliation: Univ. Limoges, INSERM UMR-S 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2 Rue du Dr. Marcland, Limoges, 87025, France.
authors.forename: Aurélien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercier
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Brazil; Cats; Eco-epidemiology; Filter paper; Modified agglutination test; Serology; Toxoplasma gondii