Molecular and serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mammals in the Taipei Zoo
Journal
Zoonoses and Public Health
Journal Volume
69
Journal Issue
8
Date Issued
2022-12-01
Author(s)
Hsu, Chin Wei
Wang, Pao Jung
Huang, Pei Yun
Lien, Chen Yeh
Wu, Li Hsin
Lai, Yen Hsueh
Guo, Jun Cheng
Cheng, Chiu Hung
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii affects both conservation and public health efforts. In the Taipei Zoo, toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in ring-tailed lemurs and a meerkat in 2019 while a freeze–thaw meat strategy had been applied to carnivores before the event. To investigate the possible risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in the Taipei Zoo, 179 veterinary visiting mammals from 2019–2021 and six stray cats were included to detect anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM in their serum via ELISA, and T. gondii in their faeces and blood via PCR. Although the overall T. gondii IgG seroprevalence was 33.5% and PCR positivity was 16.2% in the zoo mammals, the correlation between T. gondii PCR and systemic IgG results was low. An omnivorous diet (adjusted OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–1.0), a herbivorous diet (adjusted OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.1–9.6), and animals in the Conservation Area where stray cats appeared (adjusted OR = 18.3; 95% CI: 3.9–85.9) were independent risk factors for T. gondii infection. The low T. gondii-specific IgM positivity (0.6%) suggests that most animals did not have acute T. gondii infection. In conclusion, our findings indirectly support that feeding frozen meat to carnivores, cleaning fresh food, and restricting access to stray cats to prevent faecal contaminants could prevent animals from T. gondii exposure.
Subjects
epidemiology survey | risk factors | Toxoplasma gondii | zoo mammals
Type
journal article