Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Household Cats in Korea and Risk Factors
The Korean Journal of Parasitology
; : 357-361, 2013.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-79735
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
Several epidemiological surveys have reported the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in stray cats in Korea, but little information is available on T. gondii infection in household cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection among household cats reared in Seoul, Korea. A total of 474 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy household cats. All samples were tested using ELISA and PCR. The risk factor analysis was based on a questionnaire filled out by the owners. The overall positive rate for ELISA and PCR assays was 2.2% (10/437) and 2.1% (10/474), respectively. With regard to the origin of cats, the positive rates among cats adopted from the animal shelter and veterinary clinic for stray cats were significantly different (P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that the positive rate of T. gondii infection in household cats was low and that this low prevalence was assumed to be associated with keeping the cats indoors and restriction of eating raw food and uncooked meat. Therefore, we suggest that the owners check the origin of the cats prior to adoption to prevent infection of other animals, including humans.
Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Toxoplasma
/
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
/
Cat Diseases
/
Toxoplasmosis, Animal
/
Polymerase Chain Reaction
/
Prevalence
/
Risk Factors
/
Republic of Korea
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
The Korean Journal of Parasitology
Year:
2013
Type:
Article