Publication: Toxoplasma gondii antibody in Thai cats and their owners
Issued Date
2003-12-01
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ISSN
01251562
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2-s2.0-1842734645
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.34, No.4 (2003), 733-738
Suggested Citation
Yaowalark Sukthana, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Chun Jantanavivat, Amorn Lekkla, Rachatawan Chiabchalard, Waraporn Aumarm Toxoplasma gondii antibody in Thai cats and their owners. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.34, No.4 (2003), 733-738. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/20987
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Title
Toxoplasma gondii antibody in Thai cats and their owners
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Abstract
Humans are thought to acquire Toxoplasma infection by three major routes: ingesting food and water contaminated with oocysts from cat excreta, consumption of under-cooked infected meat, and transplacental transfer. Congenital clinical toxoplasmosis in the newborn indicating definite transplacental transmission had been reported in Thailand, whilst studies concerning infection due to the other two routes were inconclusive. Since the way domestic cats live and eat and also the eating behavior of Thai people differ from those in the West, we conducted a sero-epidemiological study of T. gondii in cats and their owners in Bangkok metropolitan area. Among 327 humans, the prevalence of Toxoplasma antibody was 6.4% and in 315 cats it was 7.3%. These relatively low prevalence rates may result from the predominantly well-cooked fish and rice diet of stray cats, which congregate in temples where they are fed. Toxoplasma antibody seropositive was associated with living in close proximity to seropositivity cats [OR (95% CI) = 5.43 (1.28-23.04); p=0.01]. Risks were increased in and around temples, particularly if courtyards were of earth or grass, suggesting ground temperature was an important determinant of oocyst survival.