Title of article :
Molecular and Serological Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Stray Cats in Shiraz, South-central, Iran
Author/Authors :
ASGARI, Qasem Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , MOHAMMADPOUR, Iraj Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , PIRZAD, Razieh Dept. of Medical Parasitology & Mycology - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , KALANTARI, Mohsen Research Center for Health Sciences - Mamasani Higher Education Complex for Health - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , MOTAZEDIAN, Mohammad Hossein Dept. of Medical Parasitology & Mycology - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , NADERI, Shahrbanou Dept. of Medical Parasitology & Mycology - School of Medicine - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonotic disease that causes critical medical
complications in neonates and immunocompromised persons. Infection rates
in cats, specifically stray cats, are believed to be the best sentry of the level of Toxoplasma
gondii in the environment. Therefore, in this study, we surveyed T. gondii infection
in stray cats of Shiraz, one of the metropolises of Iran.
Methods: The appearance of antibodies and DNA of T. gondii in samples from
145 stray cats was determined in order to appraise the prevalence of T. gondii infection,
by MAT and Nested-PCR.
Results: The rate of T. gondii infection in the cats was 69% by PCR and 82.8% by
MAT. Besides, the highest rate of infection was discerned in diaphragm (37.9%)
and intercostal muscle (34.5%), while the lowest rate was related to ileum (6.9%).
Moreover, the similarity between MAT with titers 1:20, 1:40 and PCR were 79.2%
and 86.2%, respectively (P=0.02 and P=0.0001).
Conclusion: Nested-PCR and MAT are valuable techniques for molecular and
serological detection of T. gondii. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in stray cats
in Shiraz is high.
Keywords :
Toxoplasma gondii , Stray cats , Nested-PCR , Iran , MAT
