<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023)
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a protozoan parasite in cats that can be a cause of zoonotic concern due to sheding infectious and highly resistant oocysts. Clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in cats and can occur with mild to severe clinical signs or even fatal outcomes. <i>T. gondii</...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Nils Altner Laura Kemmling Zaida Rentería-Solís Anna Obiegala Simone A. Fietz Romy M. Heilmann |
| author_facet | Nils Altner Laura Kemmling Zaida Rentería-Solís Anna Obiegala Simone A. Fietz Romy M. Heilmann |
| author_sort | Nils Altner |
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| description | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a protozoan parasite in cats that can be a cause of zoonotic concern due to sheding infectious and highly resistant oocysts. Clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in cats and can occur with mild to severe clinical signs or even fatal outcomes. <i>T. gondii</i> immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG is an indicator of ongoing or prior infection. Information about <i>T. gondii</i> occurrence in the domestic cat population, primary clinical concerns about affected cats, and potential risk factors is scarce in Germany. This retrospective study explored data from 174 feline patients (≥12 weeks old) presented to a tertiary veterinary care facility in central Germany between 2012 and 2023. <i>T. gondii</i> serological status, determined as part of the cats’ routine diagnostic evaluation, was assessed in relation to patient characteristics, environmental factors, medical history data, and clinical diagnosis. Neurological (57%), locomotor (25%), and ocular signs (11%) were common, and older age was associated with the presence of IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Sex had no significant effects on <i>T. gondii</i> antibody positivity (<i>p</i> = 0.865). More outdoor cats than indoor-only cats were <i>T. gondii</i> IgG-positive (<i>p</i> = 0.021), and IgG-seropositive animals received a canned/wet diet more often than a dry kibble diet (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Clinical representations aligned with previous studies, and age, choice of food, and outdoor living (<i>p</i> = 0.021) were significant predisposing factors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-169e16ebc02f4cba9e6d72db3830e3f1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-9372 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| series | Pets |
| spelling | doaj-art-169e16ebc02f4cba9e6d72db3830e3f12025-08-20T02:42:24ZengMDPI AGPets2813-93722025-02-0121710.3390/pets2010007<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023)Nils Altner0Laura Kemmling1Zaida Rentería-Solís2Anna Obiegala3Simone A. Fietz4Romy M. Heilmann5Department for Small Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyDepartment for Small Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute for Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 43, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyDepartment for Small Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103 Leipzig, Germany<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is a protozoan parasite in cats that can be a cause of zoonotic concern due to sheding infectious and highly resistant oocysts. Clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in cats and can occur with mild to severe clinical signs or even fatal outcomes. <i>T. gondii</i> immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG is an indicator of ongoing or prior infection. Information about <i>T. gondii</i> occurrence in the domestic cat population, primary clinical concerns about affected cats, and potential risk factors is scarce in Germany. This retrospective study explored data from 174 feline patients (≥12 weeks old) presented to a tertiary veterinary care facility in central Germany between 2012 and 2023. <i>T. gondii</i> serological status, determined as part of the cats’ routine diagnostic evaluation, was assessed in relation to patient characteristics, environmental factors, medical history data, and clinical diagnosis. Neurological (57%), locomotor (25%), and ocular signs (11%) were common, and older age was associated with the presence of IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Sex had no significant effects on <i>T. gondii</i> antibody positivity (<i>p</i> = 0.865). More outdoor cats than indoor-only cats were <i>T. gondii</i> IgG-positive (<i>p</i> = 0.021), and IgG-seropositive animals received a canned/wet diet more often than a dry kibble diet (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Clinical representations aligned with previous studies, and age, choice of food, and outdoor living (<i>p</i> = 0.021) were significant predisposing factors.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/2/1/7toxoplasmosisserologyzoonosiscatfeline healthveterinary parasitology |
| spellingShingle | Nils Altner Laura Kemmling Zaida Rentería-Solís Anna Obiegala Simone A. Fietz Romy M. Heilmann <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) Pets toxoplasmosis serology zoonosis cat feline health veterinary parasitology |
| title | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) |
| title_full | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) |
| title_fullStr | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) |
| title_short | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Feline Patients Admitted to a Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Central Germany over 11 Years (2012–2023) |
| title_sort | i toxoplasma gondii i seroprevalence and risk factors in feline patients admitted to a small animal veterinary teaching hospital in central germany over 11 years 2012 2023 |
| topic | toxoplasmosis serology zoonosis cat feline health veterinary parasitology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-9372/2/1/7 |
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