scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Cyprus

Author(s):  
Charalampos Attipa ◽  
Christos Yiapanis ◽  
Séverine Tasker ◽  
Anastasia Diakou

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoon parasite, and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent zoonotic parasitic diseases. Cats, as definitive hosts, are spreaders of the parasite via their faeces, but this occurs only for a very short period in their life. Seropositivity in cats, although not associated with current shedding of the parasite, is indicative of the infection in a cat population and can be used to assess the infection risk for definitive and intermediate hosts in that area. In order to assess the prevalence of infection in cats living in Cyprus, 155 cats, originating from all districts of the country, were examined for the presence of T. gondii antibodies. Additionally, parameters such as age, sex, health status, lifestyle and concomitant infections were statistically assessed as potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity. Specific anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 50 (32.3%) cats, while the presence of feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and a history of never having been vaccinated were statistically associated with T. gondii seropositivity on multivariate logistic regression model. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in cats in Cyprus and indicates that raised public awareness should be considered to prevent infection of animals and humans.

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
Charalampos Attipa ◽  
Christos Yiapanis ◽  
Séverine Tasker ◽  
Anastasia Diakou

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoon parasite, and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent zoonotic parasitic diseases. Cats, as definitive hosts, spread the parasite via their faeces, but this occurs only for a very short period in their life. Seropositivity in cats, although not associated with current shedding of the parasite, is indicative of the infection in a cat population and can be used to assess the infection risk for definitive and intermediate hosts in that area. In order to assess the prevalence of infection in cats living in Cyprus, 155 cats, originating from all districts of the country, were examined for the presence of T. gondii antibodies. Additionally, parameters such as age, sex, health status, lifestyle and concomitant infections were statistically assessed as potential risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity. Specific anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 50 (32.3%) cats, while the presence of feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and a history of never having been vaccinated were statistically associated with T. gondii seropositivity on multivariate logistic regression analysis. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in cats in Cyprus and indicates that raised public awareness should be considered to prevent infection of animals and humans.


1994 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 4572-4579 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Baldinotti ◽  
D Matteucci ◽  
P Mazzetti ◽  
C Giannelli ◽  
P Bandecchi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Xinyu Chi ◽  
Kexin Fang ◽  
Liza Koster ◽  
Jevan Christie ◽  
Chaoqun Yao

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite that infects all warm-blooded species including humans. The definitive hosts of T. gondii are felid vertebrates including the domestic cat. Domestic cats shed oocysts for approximately two weeks in their feces after the primary infection. It has been shown that feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positive cats have a higher prevalence of and a higher titer of antibodies to T. gondii than those of FIV-negative cats. The main purposes of this study were to determine FIV prevalence and to investigate the oocysts shedding in FIV-positive and FIV-negative feral cats on St. Kitts. Fecal samples were collected from feral cats while their FIV statues were determined using a commercial SNAP kit. Total fecal DNA of each cat was tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) consistently detecting one genome equivalent. A FIV-positive status was detected in 18 of 105 (17.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.9%−24.3%) feral cats sampled. Furthermore, males were three times more likely to be FIV positive than females (p = 0.017) with an odds ratio of 3.93 (95% CI: 1.20–12.89). Adults were found to have at least twice the prevalence of FIV compared to cats younger than one year of age (p = 0.056) with an odds ratio of 3.07 (95% CI: 0.94–10.00). Toxoplasma gondii DNA was not detected in the feces of any of the 18 FIV-positive (95% CI: 0%−0.18%) and 87 FIV-negative cats (95% CI: 0%−0.04%). A follow-up study with a much bigger sample size is needed to prove or disprove the hypothesis that FIV-positive cats have a higher prevalence of shedding T. gondii oocysts than FIV-negative cats.


Author(s):  
Sahar J Ismail ◽  
Meet Patel ◽  
Ryan Gindi ◽  
Ahmad Salah ◽  
Ignatius Tang ◽  
...  

Introduction: Patients with end stage renal disease suffer from a high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Renal transplant offers mortality and morbidity benefits. Hypothesis: We predict that patients with CVD are less likely to obtain a renal transplant after being listed and that CVD may be associated with post-transplant adverse events. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all adult patients listed for first time renal transplantation at the University Of Illinois Chicago from 2002 till 2006. We defined Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) as a history of myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization. We defined reduced ejection fraction (rEF) as an EF less than or equal to 40%. CAD equivalents were defined as a history of diabetes, stroke or peripheral vascular disease. We assessed the outcome of achieving transplantation in a multivariate logistic regression model. We assessed post-transplant events of death or graft failure in a Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: Of the 460 patients studied African-Americans accounted for 52% and men for 58%. CAD was present in 10.9% of patients and rEF was present in 9.6%. Pre-operative revascularization occurred in 8.9% of patients (74% percutaneous coronary intervention, 26% bypass surgery. Patients with CAD or a CAD equivalent were older (54.7 vs. 43.2 years old, p <0.01), had higher systolic blood pressure (147.2 vs. 140.6 mmHg, p<0.01) and lower diastolic blood pressure (79.3 vs. 83.6 mmHg, p<0.01). Beta-blocker (63% vs. 54%, p = 0.06) statin (45% vs. 11%, p<0.01) and aspirin (40% vs 12%, p<0.01) use was more common in those with CAD or equivalent. In a multivariate logistic regression model controlling for sex, medications, pre-operative revascularization, and comorbidities, age (OR 0.975, 95% CI 0.954 to 0.997, p = 0.03) and history of CAD (OR 0.385 95% CI 0.159 to 0.932, p= 0.03) were associated with lower odds of receiving transplant. In a Cox proportional hazards model controlling for age, sex, pre-operative revascularization, type of transplant, and comorbidities, CAD (HR 2.56 95% CI 1.08 - 6.10, p = 0.03) and rEF (HR 2.37 95% CI 1.06 - 5.35, p = 0.03) were associated with an increased hazard of graft failure or death. Of 337 patients that received transplant only 4 peri-operative myocardial infarcts and 1 stroke occurred. Conclusions: CVD is common in patients listed for renal transplant. CAD is independently associated with lower odds of receiving a transplant. CAD and rEF are independently associated with increased hazard of post-transplant death or graft failure. Future efforts should focus measures to optimize outcomes in patients with CVD awaiting transplant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 2172-2180
Author(s):  
Laibané Dieudonné Dahourou ◽  
Oubri Bassa Gbati ◽  
Arnaud Rayangnéwêndé Stéphane Tapsoba ◽  
Saandi Moina Riziki ◽  
Amadou Traore

Porcine toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis. This study was conducted to establish evidence of toxoplasmosis and its associated factors among pigs in three villages of Balés province, Burkina Faso. Serums samples were collected from 182 pigs and data was collected on farmers’ sociodemographics, origin (village) of pigs, pigs’ sex, age, breed and keeping systems through a household questionnaire interview. Serum samples were analyzed using indirect ELISA targeting IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Results of the study showed an overall sero-prevalence of 16.5 % (95% CI: 11.1% – 21.9%). The sero-prevalence was higher in Toné (23.1%; 95% CI: 12.8% – 33.3%) and Kabourou (20.7%; 95% CI: 10.3% – 31.1%) compared to Sadon Bobo (5.1%; 95% CI: 0% – 10.7%) (p=0.01). It was also higher in pigs older than 12 months (23.2%; 95% CI: 14.9% – 31.5%) compared to pigs less than 12 months (8.4%; 95% CI: 02.4% – 14.4%) (p=0.00731). During rainy season, tethered pigs (7.1%; CI95: 0.40% – 13.8%) were less infected than housed pigs (20.6%; 95% CI: 11.1% – 21.9%) (p=0.02). Multivariate logistic regression model shows that pigs older than 12 months were more likely to get infected compared to pigs less than 12 months old (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.00 - 6.62; p=0.04). These results provided evidence for the presence of T. gondii in pigs in this area.Keywords: Burkina Faso, pigs, Toxoplasma gondii, seroepidemiological studies, zoonosis.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document