Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Southwest Cats of Albania

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite found worldwide and cause a disease known astoxoplasmosis. Cats, as definitive hosts, play an important role in the transmission of Toxoplasmagondii. A total of 138 domestic household blood samples were collected from Gjirokastra and Tepelena areas from October 2012 to January 2014. Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 58 (42 %)samples exclusively via the by modified agglutination test (MAT). T. gondii antibodies were detected incats. The antibody titers in the positive animals ranged from 1:25 to 1:500. Our results suggest that T.gondii infection is common in household cats in Southwest of Albania.