Abstract
Raccoons (Procyon lotor), intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), utilize a variety of environments, so they are thought to be good indicators of the presence of T. gondii oocysts in their habitat. In this study, a serological survey of T. gondii was conducted in raccoons captured between 2010 and 2014 in rural areas of the Tokachi district, Hokkaido, Japan to estimate environmental factors associated with T. gondii prevalence. Antibodies were detected from 9.4% (10/107) with latex agglutination tests. Logistic mixed regression models showed that total river length (km) in raccoon habitats was associated positively with T. gondii seropositivity (OR＝14.67, 95% CI＝2.64—81.58). Cats (Felis silvestris catus) are natural hosts of T. gondii, and together with raccoons they share riverside environments. In such areas where humans do not remove trash and animal feces, raccoons might easily be exposed to matured oocysts. Environmental factors associated with T. gondii prevalence in raccoons could be important information to identify high risk areas for human T. gondii infection. Our present result was also useful from the public health perspectives when considering the infection risk of T. gondii to humans.
