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Title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and concurrent bartonella spp., feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia infections in cats from Grenada, West Indies

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item LAPPIN, M - Colorado State University
item Kwok, Oliver
item MOFYA, S - St George'S University
item CHIKWETO, A - St George'S University
item BAFFA, A - St George'S University
item DOHERTY, D - St George'S University
item SHAKIER, J - St George'S University
item MACPHERSON, C - St George'S University
item SHARMA, R - St George'S University

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2009
Publication Date: 12/12/2009
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Lappin, M.R., Kwok, O.C., Mofya, S., Chikweto, A., Baffa, A., Doherty, D., Shakier, J., Macpherson, C.N., Sharma, R.N. 2009. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and concurrent Bartonella spp., feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia infections in cats from Grenada, West Indies. Journal of Parasitology. 95:1129-1133.

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. This paper reports Toxoplasma infections in cats from Grenada, West Indies. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLv) are related to Human Iimmunodeficiency Virus, and Human Leukemia Virus, respectively, and these viruses are immunosuppressive. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondi, Bartonella spp., FIV, and FeLv were determined in sera from 75 domestic and 101 feral cats (Felis catus) from the Caribbean Island of Grenada, West Indies. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 23 (30.6%) of the 75 pet cats with titers of 1:25 in 1, 1:50 in 3, 1:400 in 4, 1:500 in 12, 1:800 in 2, and 1:1,600 in 1, ,and 28 (27.7%) of 101 feral cats with titers of 1:25 in 4, 1:50 in 7, 1:200 in 4 , 1:400 in 1, 1:500 in 3, 1:800 in 2, 1:1,600 in 3, and !:3,200 in 4. Overall, in both pet and feral cats the seroprevalence increased with age. Antibodies to Bartonella spp. were found in 38 (50. 6%) of the 75 pet cats and 52.4% of 101 feral cats. Antibodies to FIV were found in 6 domestic and 22 feral cats. None of the 176 cats was positive for FeLv antigen. There was no correlation among T. gondii , Bartonella spp., and FIV seropositivity.