Toxoplasma gondii in small exotic felids from zoos in Europe and the Middle East: serological prevalence and risk factors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Toxoplasma gondii infections and cases of clinical toxoplasmosis have been recorded in zoo animals. Wild felids in human care can serve as definitive hosts that shed oocysts, but also as intermediate hosts for the parasite. Some felid species, such as the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) or sand cat (Felis margarita), may suffer from clinically apparent toxoplasmosis. In the present study, our main aim was to assess risk factors for T. gondii infections in small exotic felids.

Methods

A seroepidemiological study was conducted using the reduviid bug Dipetalogaster maxima for blood sample collection, a method previously evaluated on domestic cats. A total of 336 samples from 17 felid species were collected in 51 institutions, 48 of which were within Europe and the re

SUBMITTER: Lucht M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6737647 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature