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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280507
Title: High prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Ethiopian cats in Addis Ababa, coinfection, and a review of toxoplasmosis in humans and other animals in Ethiopia

Author
item TIAO, NARRY - The Ohio State University
item DARRINGTON, COURTNEY - The Ohio State University
item MOLLA, BAYLEYEGN - The Ohio State University
item SAVILLE, WILLIAM JAMES - The Ohio State University
item TILAHUN, GIZACHEW - Addis Ababa University
item Kwok, Oliver
item GEBREYES, WONDWOSSEN - The Ohio State University
item LAPPIN, MICHAEL - Colorad0 State University
item JONES, JEFFREY - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Epidemiology and Infection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2012
Publication Date: 3/1/2013
Citation: Tiao, N., Darrington, C.L., Molla, B., Saville, W.A., Tilahun, G., Kwok, O.C., Gebreyes, W.A., Lappin, M.R., Jones, J.L., Dubey, J.P. 2013. High prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Ethiopian cats in Addis Ababa, coinfection, and a review of toxoplasmosis in humans and other animals in Ethiopia. Epidemiology and Infection. 141:1029-1033.

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 under cooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. In the present study, authors found antibodies to T. gondii in 85% of 48 domestic cats from Addis Ababa. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and public health workers.

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 Immunodeficiency Virus, and Human T-lymphotrophic Virus, respectively, and these viruses are immunosuppressive. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii, Bartonella spp., FIV, as well as FeLv antigens were determined in sera from feral cats (Felis catus) from Ethiopia. Using a modified agglutination test, IgG antibodies to T. gondii were found in 41 (85.4%) of the 48 cats with titers of 1:25 in 1, 1:50 in 1, 1:200 in 6, 1:400 in 6, and 1:800 6, 1:1600 in 8, and 1:3200 in 13. Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibodies were found in 11 cats by an ELISA, suggesting recent infection. Antibodies to Bartonella spp. were found in 5 (11%) of 45, with titers of 1:64 in 4, and 1:128 in 1. Antibodies to FIV or FeLv antigen were not detected in any of the 41 cats tested. The results indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii in cats in Ethiopia. Toxoplasma gondii infections in humans and other animals in Ethiopia are discussed.