Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Cats From Durango City, Mexico

• DOI: 10.1645/ge-1268r.1
• Publication Date: 2007-11-15T19:40:47Z
• Authors: C. Alvarado-Esquivel; O. Liesenfeld; R. G. Herrera-Flores; B. E. Ramírez-Sán...; A. González-Herrera; S. A. Martínez-Ga...; J. P. Dubey
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Cats; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Female; Cat Diseases; Mexico; Toxoplasma; 3. Good health

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in sera from 105 domestic cats from Durango City, Mexico. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to this parasite were found in 21% of the 105 cats, with titers of 1:25 in 3 cats, 1:50 in 4 cats, 1:200 in 5 cats, 1:400 in 2 cats, 1:800 in 2 cats, 1:1,600 in 4 cats, and 1:3,200 or higher in 2 cats. Cats older than 1 yr had a significantly higher frequency of infection than that found in cats younger than 0.5 yr (41 vs. 13.2%, respectively; odds ratio = 4.55; 95% CI = 1.24-17.18; P = 0.01). Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats in Durango, Mexico, is much lower compared with those reported in other countries.