Prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in          free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Yuki SHOSHI; Kazuaki KAZATO; Tamao MAEDA; Yasuhiro TAKASHIMA; Yuya WATARI; Yoshitsugu MATSUMOTO; Tadashi MIYASHITA; Chizu SANJOBA

doi:10.1292/jvms.20-0512

Parasitology

Prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island, Japan

Yuki SHOSHI, Kazuaki KAZATO, Tamao MAEDA, Yasuhiro TAKASHIMA, Yuya WATARI, Yoshitsugu MATSUMOTO, Tadashi MIYASHITA, Chizu SANJOBA

Author information

Yuki SHOSHI
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Kazuaki KAZATO
Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Tamao MAEDA
Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Yasuhiro TAKASHIMA
Department of Veterinary Parasitological Diseases, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
Yuya WATARI
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan
Yoshitsugu MATSUMOTO
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Tadashi MIYASHITA
Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Chizu SANJOBA
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan

Keywords: free-ranging cat, seroprevalence, Tokunoshima Island, Toxoplasma gondii

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2021 Volume 83 Issue 2 Pages 333-337

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.20-0512

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Abstract

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island was assessed by testing 125 serum samples using anti-T. gondii IgG indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seropositivity rate was 47.2% (59/125). Seropositivity rates in cats with body weight >2.0 kg (57.4%) were significantly higher than in those with body weight ≤2.0 kg (12.5%, P<0.01). Analysis of the number of seropositive cats by settlement revealed the presence of possibly-infected cats in 17 of 23 settlements, indicating the widespread prevalence of T. gondii on the island. This is the first study to show the seroprevalence of T. gondii in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island. The information revealed in this paper will help to prevent the transmission of T. gondii among cats and also in both wild and domestic animals and humans on the island.

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