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Title: SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN GORDONS WILD CAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS GORDONI) IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Author
item PAS, AN - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2008
Publication Date: 8/1/2008
Citation: Pas, A., Dubey, J.P. 2008. Seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Gordons wild cat (Felis silvestris gordoni) in the Middle Easat Journal of Parasitology 94:1169.

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and from United Arab Emirates report T. gondii infection in Gordons cat, for the first time from this host. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Most species of felids tested have been found to be the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii. Gordons’ wild cat (Felis silvestris gordoni) is a threatened species found in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in all 22 captive and 1 of 3 wild caught Felis silvestris gordoni in UAE examined by the modified agglutination test (MAT).Titers were 1:100 in 1, 1:200 in 5, 1:400 in 4, 1:800 in 8, 1:1,600 in 4, and 1:3,200 or higher in 1. None of these cats was ill despite exhibiting high antibody titers. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in this host.