A Toxoplasma Antibody Survey by Dye Test on Cats and Dogs in the Yokohama Area and Relations between Its Results and Clinical Infection

Abstract

Cats and dogs in the Yokohama area of Kanagawa Prefecture were examined for the presence of Toxoplasma antibody by the dye test. They were divided into two groups, A and B. Group A was that of animals which were healthy and had never manifested any of the symptoms characteristic of toxoplasmosis. Group B was that of animals which had ever exhibited at least one of such symptoms.
1. Among the house dogs tested, the positive rate (1: 16 and higher) was 29.3 per cent (113/386), or 19.8 per cent (44/222) in group A and 42.1 per cent (69/164) in group B. Group B showed a much higher positive rate (X²=22.6) and included more animals revealing high antibody titers than group A.
Such tendency as mentioned above was common to three age groups (less than 1 year, 1 to 5 years, and more than 5 years), being particularly noticeable among young puppies. The positive rate increased almost parallel to the advance in age in group A, but it was constantly high, regardless of age, in group B. It presented no difference by sex.
2. Of the symptoms manifested in group B, the most important were digestive disorders, particularly watery and bloody diarrhea. Secretion in excess of sebum palpebrale, coughing, and pneumonia were also seen.
3. The ownerless dogs tested gave a positive rate of 42.6 per cent (20/47). This rate was higher, but not significantly higher, than that among the house dogs.
4. The cats tested revealed a positive rate of 46.9 per cent (15/32), which was higher than that among the house dogs. There was a tendency that the rate was higher in group B than group A in the cats. Cats showing antibody titers higher than 1: 256 were found in 8.7 per cent in group A and 44.4 per cent in group B. Noticeable symptoms were paralysis of the hind quarter, chronic diarrhea, and persistent fever in cats