Investigation of acute toxoplasmosis in stray cats using serogical and molecular methods
Project no. 32 · Status: Kapanmış · 2016
Summary
T. gondii is a protozoan parasite that has a widespread distribution worldwide among mammalians and birds. Worldwide, the prevalence in humans ranges between 10% to 60%, and in some regions as high as 90%. The high prevalence is mostly due to ingesting oocyst excreted by domestic cats. In this study, we aimed to investigate the acute toxoplasmosis in stray cats of İzmir to clarify the risk of toxoplasmosis created by cats. For this purpose, feces and blood samples of 475 stray cats were analyzed for the presence of T. gondii oocysts by microscopy and real time PZR and ELISA. The results showed that the incidence of acute toxoplasmosis in stray cats was 13.64% and the seroprevalence was 37.05% in İzmir. Moreover, 17 cats that T. gondii oocysts were detected by PZR in feces were treated with clindamycin for 15 days. PZR results of feces samples showed that T. gondii RE gene was not detected in follow up feces of 16 cats. Overall, this study comprehensively evaluated the incidence of acute toxoplasmosis in stray cats of İzmir which is the third biggest city located on Western coast of Turkey with a population of more than 4.2 million. Avoiding feeding of stray cats with raw meat and monitoring stray cats for acute toxoplasmosis by municipality veterinary clinics may help decrease the disease burden as well as its complications in İzmir.