Seroprevalence of <it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>infection in pet dogs in Lanzhou, Northwest China

• Main Authors: Zhou Dong-Hui, Yuan Zi-Guo, Chen Mu-Xin, Chen Jia-Xu, Liu Guang-Yuan, Fu Bao-Quan, Huang Si-Yang, Wu Song-Ming, Weng Ya-Biao, Zhu Xing-Quan, Ye De-He
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-05-01
• Series: Parasites & Vectors
• Online Access: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/4/1/64

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, surveys of <it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>infection in dogs have been reported worldwide, including China. However, little is known about the prevalence of <it>T. gondii </it>in pet dogs in Northwest China. In the present study, the prevalence of <it>T. gondii </it>in pet dogs in Lanzhou, China was investigated using the modified agglutination test (MAT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this survey, antibodies to <it>T. gondii </it>were found in 28 of 259 (10.81%) pet dogs, with MAT titers of 1:20 in 14 dogs, 1:40 in nine, 1:80 in four, and 1:160 or higher in one dog. The prevalence ranged from 6.67% to 16.67% among dogs of different ages, with low rates in young pet dogs, and high rates in older pet dogs. The seroprevalence in dogs >3 years old was higher than that in dogs ≤1 years old, but the difference was not statistically significant (<it>P ></it>0.05). The seroprevalence in male dogs was 12.50% (17 of 136), and in female dogs it was 8.94% (11 of 123), but the difference was not statistically significant (<it>P ></it>0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A high prevalence of <it>T. gondii </it>infection was found in pet dogs in Lanzhou, Northwest China, which has implications for public health in this region. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to <it>T. gondii</it>, further measures and essential control strategies should be carried out rationally in this region.</p>