LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors in Felis catus in Havana
Seroprevalencia de Toxoplasma gondii y factores de riesgo asociados en Felis catus en La Habana
Dear Sir, ]]>
In the framework of the investigation Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors in Felis catus in Havana, this causal agent of toxoplasmosis, a re-emergent and cosmopolitan zoonosis that affects mammal and birds as intermediate hosts and felines as definitive hosts, was approached. In Cuba, a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in humans was reported in the capital; however, to date, the prevalence in the feline species (Felis catus) in Havana is unknown, mainly due to the absence of diagnosticians on the veterinary network and the complexity in sampling. For the above arguments, it was decided to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in Felis catus.Validation of an immunoenzymatic system of inhibition (ELISA/i) was the initial step required for the serologic diagnosis of this parasite in this species with a commercial system of agglutination with latex as reference. For this, 300 serum samples collected from domestic cats in the 15 municipalities of La Habana province were used. These samples were also used in the determination of the seroprevalence and identification of the associated risks factors.
The validation of the assay showed elevated values of sensibility (99.5%), specificity (98.9%) and Kappa (0.98). the processed serums evidenced a high seroprevalence (70%) in the animals evaluated, and the risk factors associated with the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in Felis catus which were identified were: adult category (75%), aged ³5 years (89%) and 2-4 years (73%), predation of rodents, birds and amphibians (76%), consumption of raw meat (75%) and the presence of insects and rodents at homes (75%).
The seroprevalence of T. gondii determined in Felis catus in Havana was high, which was associated with the category, age, feeding and presence of vectors. ELISA/i validated for the first time in Cuba demonstrated excellent results for the diagnosis of T. gondii in Felis catus.
Raiden Grandía GuzmánI, Ángel Entrena GarcíaI, Jeddú Cruz HernándezII, Dora Ginorio GavitoIII, Ingrid Domenech CañeteIII, Abdulahi Alfonso MoralesIV, Loreley Perdomo RedondoV, Lourdes Chi RamírezVI, Miriam Burón RodríguezI ]]>
ICentro Nacional para la Producción de Animales de Laboratorio (CENPALAB), La Habana, Cuba. E-mail: raiden@cenpalab.inf.cu.