PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE IN A NATURAL AREA

• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-47.2.381
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T03:04:09Z
• Authors: Shannon L. Fredeb...; Nohra E. Mateus-P...; Milton McAllister; Richard E. Warner; Hsin-Yi Weng
• Keywords: Toxoplasmosis

We conducted a cross-sectional study from 2008 to 2009 evaluate the occurrence of feral and wild cats risk Toxoplasma gondii infection in terrestrial wildlife natural area Illinois, USA. Felids are definitive hosts for T. key component rural urban transmission gondii. selected four forest sites within interior park edge 300 m human buildings. Feline was determined with use scent stations, motion-detection cameras, overnight live trapping. Based on stations trapping, used building more than (scent stations: P=0.010; trapping: P=0.083). Prevalence antibodies indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) titer 1:25 considered positive; were detected at all sites. Wildlife species classified as having large home range (LHR) or small (SHR), based published estimates using cutoff 100 ha. Small–home-range mammals had higher prevalence (odds ratio [OR] =4.2; P=0.018) high frequency cat (defined ≥9 occurrences across three detection methods); this finding indicates that most likely source environmental contamination. Overall, among LHR significantly SHR (OR=7.1; P<0.001). an essential part gondii–antibody studies can be sentinels disease exposure humans areas. This improves our understanding ecologic drivers behind spatial variation area.