Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Japan.

Abstract

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were found in 92 (9.9%) of 929 feral raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) in Japan with the use of the latex agglutination test (LAT, 1∶64 or higher). Seropositivity varied by geographic location, season, and weight of raccoons trapped. Seroprevalences in the northern, central, and western areas of Japan were found to be 7.9% (39/492), 16.5% (47/285), and 3.9% (6/152), respectively. The seroprevalence by season varied from 8.5% (13/153) in spring to 18.9% (14/74) in winter, which was significantly higher than those in other seasons (P < 0.05). Seroprevalence of T. gondii was elevated in accordance with the increase in body weight of raccoons ( r(s)  =  0.9), suggesting that the animals acquired the infection postnatally. The results suggest that the raccoon may serve as a useful indicator for the distribution of T. gondii in peridomestic environments in Japan.

• Authors: Shingo Sato, Hidenori Kabeya, Takashi Makino, Kazuo Suzuki, Makoto Asano, Satoshi Inoue, Hiroshi Sentsui, Sadao Nogami, Soichi Maruyama
• Journal: The Journal of parasitology (J Parasitol) Vol. 97 Issue 5 Pg. 956-7 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1937-2345 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21510744 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan

Topics

• Age Distribution
• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood)
• Body Weight
• Cats
• Female
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Latex Fixation Tests (veterinary)
• Male
• Raccoons (parasitology)
• Seasons
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Toxoplasma (immunology)
• Toxoplasmosis, Animal (epidemiology)
• Urban Population