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.
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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).


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
['Bolais|Paula F|PF|', 'Vignoles|Philippe|P|', 'Pereira|Pamela F|PF|', 'Keim|Rafael|R|', 'Aroussi|Abdelkrim|A|', 'Ismail|Khadja|K|', 'Dardé|Marie-Laure|ML|', 'Amendoeira|Maria Regina|MR|', 'Mercier|Aurélien|A|']
D000372:Agglutination Tests D000818:Animals D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan D001938:Brazil D002371:Cat Diseases D002415:Cats D002947:Cities D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing D015995:Prevalence D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014122:Toxoplasma D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal
Toxoplasma gondii Cats Brazil Modified agglutination test Filter paper Eco-epidemiology Serology