Dynamics and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding in domestic and wild felids

AbstractFelidae as definitive hosts for Toxoplasma gondii play a major role in transmission to all warm-blooded animals trough oocysts dissemination. Therefore the current comprehensive study was performed to determine the global status of T. gondii infection in domestic and wild felids aiming to provide comprehensive data of interest for further intervention approaching the One Health perspective. Different databases were searched by utilizing particular key words for publications related to T. gondii infecting domestic and wild feline host species, worldwide, from 1970 to 2020. The review of 337 reports showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic cats and wild felids was estimated in 37.5% (95% CI 34.7–40.3) (I2 = 98.3%, P < 0.001) and 64% (95% CI 60–67.9) (I2 = 88%, P < 0.0001), respectively. The global pooled prevalence of oocysts in the fecal examined specimens from domestic cats was estimated in 2.6% (95% CI 1.9–3.3) (I2 = 96.1%, P < 0.0001), and that in fecal samples from wild felids was estimated in 2.4% (95% CI 1.1–4.2) (I2 = 86.4%, P < 0.0001). In addition, from 13,252 examined soil samples in 14 reviewed studies, the pooled occurrence of T. gondii oocysts was determined in 16.2% (95% CI 7.66–27.03%). The observed high rates of anti-T. gondii antibodies seroprevalence levels and oocyst excretion frequency in the felids, along with soil (environmental) contamination with oocysts may constitute a potential threat to animal and public health, and data will result of interest in further prophylaxis programs.

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Toxoplasma gondii in small exotic felids from zoos in Europe and the Middle East: serological prevalence and risk factors

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-019-3706-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maike Lücht ◽

Julia Stagegaard ◽

Franz J. Conraths ◽

Gereon Schares

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Middle East ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Information Management System ◽

Wild Felids ◽

Human Care ◽

Felid Species

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii infections and cases of clinical toxoplasmosis have been recorded in zoo animals. Wild felids in human care can serve as definitive hosts that shed oocysts, but also as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Some felid species, such as the Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul) or sand cat (Felis margarita), may suffer from clinically apparent toxoplasmosis. In the present study, our main aim was to assess risk factors for T. gondii infections in small exotic felids. Methods A seroepidemiological study was conducted using the reduviid bug Dipetalogaster maxima for blood sample collection, a method previously evaluated on domestic cats. A total of 336 samples from 17 felid species were collected in 51 institutions, 48 of which were within Europe and the remaining three in the Middle East (United Arabic Emirates and Qatar). These samples were analyzed for T. gondii antibodies by immunoblotting and an immunofluorescent antibody test. Potential risk factors in zoos for seropositivity regarding T. gondii among members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) were evaluated using a questionnaire and individual data from the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). Results The sampled felids showed an overall seroprevalence for T. gondii of 63%. The risk factor study including data of 311 small exotic cats of 10 species resulted in a final generalized linear mixed model comprised of five variables: the likelihood of seropositivity increased statistically significantly with “Age”, while feeding “Cattle: frozen” relative to “Cattle: fresh”, “Outdoor housing fenced in on all sides”, “Mesh size 2–5 cm” relative to “Mesh size > 5 cm” and “Wearing gloves: yes” had statistically significant protective effects. Conclusions Wild felids, including endangered species, kept in human care in European and Middle Eastern institutions, are widely exposed to T. gondii. Risk factor analysis revealed that feeding previously frozen tissues, keeping animals in enclosures that are fenced on all sides using fences with small mesh sizes, and wearing gloves when working inside enclosures seem to be the most relevant protective measures to prevent T. gondii infections in these animals.

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TOXOPLASMA GONDII ANTIBODIES IN EXOTIC WILD FELIDS FROM BRAZILIAN ZOOS

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine ◽

10.1638/1042-7260(2001)032[0349:tgaiew]2.0.co;2 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 349-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Wild Felids

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Inferring the Ecological Niche of Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. in Wild Felids

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2017.00172 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Luis E. Escobar ◽

Scott Carver ◽

Daniel Romero-Alvarez ◽

Sue VandeWoude ◽

Kevin R. Crooks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Wild Felids

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Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Neotropical non-human primates

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2012001000017 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 1041-1044 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Juliana S. Pires ◽

Carlos T. Ribeiro ◽

Paulo Roberto de Carvalho Filho ◽

Alcides Pissinatti ◽

Walter Flausino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

New World ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

New World Primates ◽

Wild Felids ◽

Indirect Hemagglutination ◽

Serological Studies ◽

Indirect Hemagglutination Test ◽

Intracellular Protozoan Parasite

Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1909) is an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite of warm animals, including human and non-human primates. Domestic and wild felids are considered definitive hosts. Several authors have already identified lesions in New World primates caused by T. gondii. Nevertheless, little is known about serological studies on those animals. With this reason, New World non-human primates of the genera Cebus and Callithrix that were apprehended by governmental authorities and sent to the Wildlife Screening Center (Cetas)/IBAMA, at the municipality of Seropédica, state of Rio Janeiro, were bled and sera were submitted to the indirect hemagglutination test for detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies. From 21 sera of Cebus primates, 76.19% (16/21) had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Titles varied from 16 to 2048. In samples from 21 Callithrix, only 4.5% (1/22) had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Only one animal had a title of 32. During all the time those animals were clinical evaluated until sample was collected; none of them had any clinical sign or sequel related to infection by T. gondii. The fact that the origin of these primates is unknown and that there is no information about their feeding habits before captivity makes it difficult to determine the source of T. gondii infection.

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Toxoplasma gondii in Captive Wild Felids of Mexico: Its Frequency and Capability to Eliminate Oocysts

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases ◽

10.1089/vbz.2018.2385 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 619-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Antonio Gomez-Rios ◽

Antonio Ortega-Pacheco ◽

Eduardo Gutierrez-Blanco ◽

Karla Y. Acosta-Viana ◽

Eugenia Guzman-Marin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Wild Felids

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Serum anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Passeridae), in the municipality of Pelotas, RS, Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science ◽

10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2020.164867 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. e164867

Author(s):

Luciana Siqueira Silveira dos Santos ◽

Herbert Sousa Soares ◽

Carolina Silveira Mascarenhas ◽

Paulo Roberto Silveira dos Santos ◽

Solange Maria Gennari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

Agglutination Test ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Free Living ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Wild Felids

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in serum samples from 100 sparrows (Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758) that were caught in an urban area in southern Brazil. The modified agglutination test (MAT) was used to investigate anti-T. gondii antibodies and samples with a cut-off dilution > 5 were considered positive. Among the 100 serum samples analyzed, 80 (80%) were reactive. These results demonstrate that P. domesticus may play an important role in the epidemiological chain of T. gondii, since it is widely distributed throughout Brazil, and it may act as a source of infection to domestic, semi-domestic cats and to free-living wild felids.

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Toxoplasma gondii AND OTHER PARASITES STUDIED IN FELINE FECES IN ZOOS IN CUBA AND BRAZIL

Revista de Patologia Tropical / Journal of Tropical Pathology ◽

10.5216/rpt.v48i4.62139 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Ginette Villar Echarte ◽

Alynne Da Silva Barbosa ◽

Jessica Lima Pinheiro ◽

Alejandro Manuel Rodriguez Segon ◽

Anderson Mendes Augusto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Panthera Leo ◽

Panthera Tigris ◽

Panthera Pardus ◽

Panthera Onca ◽

Leopardus Pardalis ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Wild Felids ◽

Toxascaris Leonina

Under certain circumstances, wild animals kept in zoos may be more exposed to infectious parasitic diseases. The puprpose of this study was to determine the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in captive wild felids in the National Zoological Park (PZN) in Cuba (Havana) and in RioZoo in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). A total of 52 fecal samples were collected from 52 felids, as follows: 19 Panthera leo, two Leopardus tigrinus, two Leopardus pardalis, one Panthera tigris altaica, four Panthera tigris tigris, six Panthera onca, seven Puma concolor, one Herpailurus yagouaroundi, three Acinonyx jubatus, two Caracal caracal and five Panthera pardus. The fecal samples were processed and examined microscopically. The frequency of parasite positive animals was 17.5% (7/40) in PZN and 25% (3/12) in RioZoo. Panthera pardus (40%) and Panthera onca (20%) were most frequently infected in PZN and Panthera leo (100%) and Leopardus pardalis (50%) in RioZoo. Hookworm (12.5%) was detected in PZN as well as Toxascaris leonina (10%) and in RioZoo nematode larvae (9.1%) , hookworm eggs (9.1%), Toxascaris leonina (2%) and the cestode eggs from the Diphyllobothriidae family (9.1%) were found. Toxoplasma gondii-like oocysts were not detected in feline feces. Although the positivity of gastrointestinal parasites detected in feline fecal samples was not very high in these zoos, both institutions need to implement and maintain sanitary measures, including routine diagnosis of parasitosis followed by specific treatment according to the infections detected.KEY WORDS: Captive wild felids; gastrointestinal parasites; National Zoo Park of Cuba; Rio de Janeiro Zoo; Brazil.

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