Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Cats from Cyprus

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoon parasite, and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one most prevalent zoonotic parasitic diseases. Cats, as definitive hosts, spread parasite via their faeces, but this occurs only for very short period in life. Seropositivity cats, although not associated with current shedding indicative infection cat population can be used to assess risk intermediate hosts that area. In order prevalence cats living Cyprus, 155 originating from all districts country, were examined presence T. antibodies. Additionally, parameters such age, sex, health status, lifestyle concomitant infections statistically assessed potential factors seropositivity. Specific anti-T. antibodies detected 50 (32.3%) while feline immunodeficiency virus history never having been vaccinated seropositivity on multivariate logistic regression analysis. This first report seroprevalence Cyprus indicates raised public awareness should considered prevent animals humans.