Philipp J Vet Anim Sci 2013, 39 (1): 99-106

99

SEROPREVALENCE OF Toxoplasma gondii ANTIBODIES IN DOMESTIC

SHORT-HAIRED CATS (Felis catus) IN A WILDLIFE FACILITY IN MANILA
Marco F. Reyes1, Verman G. Guevara2, Dianne Grace DG. San Roque3,
Marianne Leila S. Flores1 and Emilia A. Lastica1
ABSTRACT
Thirty apparently healthy domestic short-haired cats (Felis catus) of
both sexes, 3-48 months old, living in a wildlife facility in Manila were used in
the study. The animals had no record of deworming or vaccination. Cats with
owners were excluded in the study. Blood sera were tested for Toxoplasma
gondii antibodies using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Test kit. It
was observed that 46.67% of all the animals tested had serologic evidence of
exposure to T. gondii. Males (66.67%) were found to be more prone to the
infection than females (26.67%). All animals that tested positive were adults.
This study showed that male, adult domestic short-haired cats were more
prone to exposure to the parasite than females and young animals.
Keywords: cat, domestic, toxoplasmosis

INTRODUCTION
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that is found worldwide (Aiello,
1997). It affects a wide variety of warm blooded animals (Dubey, 2005; Molina and
Ridley-Dash, 2008; Thompson, 2009), including man (Lucas et al., 1999; Dubey,
2005; Little, 2008; Weiss and Dubey, 2009). It was first isolated by Sabin and
Olitsky in 1937 proving infections in animals are similar to human infections (De
Camps et al., 2008). T. gondii is an intracellular parasite that affects almost all
nucleated cells and tissues of the body, primarily intestinal and muscle tissues, and
may include the brain and liver (Quinn and McCraw, 1972; Dubey, 1986). Because
of its medical and veterinary importance, Toxoplasma gondii is perhaps one of the
most well-studied parasites.
Although it can infect a wide variety of hosts, only the members of the
Felidae family are the definitive host (Lukesova and Literak, 1998; Samuel et al.,
2001; Bowman et al., 2002; Pena et al., 2006; Little, 2008). Felids, such as
domestic cats, acquire infection through ingestion of any of the three infectious

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine,

University of the Philippines Los Baos, Laguna, Philippines (email:
marcofreyes@yahoo.com), 2Chareon Pokphand Foods, San Fernando,
Pampanga, Philippines; 3Batangas Farm Incorporated, Malvar, Batangas,
Philippines.

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Reyes, Bagtas, Guevara, Flores and Lastica

stages of T. gondii: tachyzoites, bradyzoites and sporozoites (Dubey, 1986). Other

animal hosts become infected by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts
shed by felids through their feces or by consuming secondary hosts harbouring
encysted bradyzoites (Lucas et al., 1999; Wolfe, 2003; Elmore et al., 2010).
The disease may be asymptomatic in apparently healthy domestic cats
(Dubey, 1986; Lappin, 2005) but may cause severe illness and clinical disease
among neonates, geriatrics and immunocompromised animals (De Camps et al.,
2008; Elmore et al., 2010). Immunosuppression may exacerbate the on-going
disease condition. Symptoms may range from asymptomatic to grave clinical signs,
including cerebral encephalitis, meningitis, abortion and stillbirth, depending on the
stage of the infective cyst and the state of the hosts immune system (Quinn and
McCraw, 1972; De Camps et al., 2008).
Wild felids, on the other hand, rarely encounter the disease, thus, may
exhibit more grave symptoms once infected (Wolfe, 2003). Felids, being the only
host able to pass environmentally resistant oocyst through the feces, are very
important in disseminating the disease to other hosts, including man (Marchiondo et
al., 1976).
Despite being well-studied in other parts of the world, as supported by
numerous studies, there are very few studies on the serologic detection of
toxoplasmosis on domestic cats in the country. It is the particular interest of this
study to determine the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in domestic short-haired
cats within a wildlife facility in Manila, Philippines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Domestic short-haired cats, of both sexes, with age ranging approximately
from three to 48 months found within a wildlife facility in Metro Manila were
considered in the study. The diet of these animals included, but not limited to, table
scraps from a nearby picnic area and smaller animals such as rodents and birds.
The animals were randomly captured using a drop trap (Figure 1) with bait inside.
The drop trap was made of light weight, sturdy wood, covered by chicken wire mesh
and propped by a stick attached to a rope. The captured cats were placed in
individual cages until owners claimed the captured cats and these animals were
excluded in the study. Unclaimed animals were considered and allowed to
acclimatize.
Chemical restraint was done using tiletamine hypochloride-zolazepam
hypochloride (Zoletil 50mg/ml Virbac Laboratories, Carros, France) given
intramuscularly (IM) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight using a 23-gauge hypodermic
needle attached to a sterile 5.0 ml disposable syringe. Once sufficient plane of
sedation was achieved, routine systemic physical examination was performed. Age
approximation was done by complete examination of the dental arcades.
Approximately 3.0-5.0 ml of blood were collected from each animal via jugular vein
(Figure 2). The collected blood samples were placed in a sterile red and lavender
capped vacuum tube (Vacutainer).
Each red-capped tube was allowed to stand for at least 30 min while waiting

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101

Figure 1. The Drop-trap made of light weight, sturdy wood covered with a 1 in x 1 in
chicken wire mesh. The dimensions of 3 ft x 3 ft x 14 in (L x W x H) propped up
by a 16-in stick connected to a string. A small, sliding wooden door of 7 in x 18 in
(W x H) was placed to facilitate transfer of animals into portable cages.

for clot formation. During this time, routine hematological test (PCV, tWBC, relative
and absolute dWBC) and direct fecal examination as described by Coles (1986)
were done to fully assess the animals health. Once clot formation was observed,
the samples were centrifuged at 2000 RPM for 10 min and serum was collected and
placed in clean, labelled Eppendorf tubes.
After physical examination, routine hematological test and direct fecal
examination, 30 domestic short-haired cats (15 males and 15 females) were used in
the study. Of these 30 animals, three were juveniles and 27 were mature animals.
Age groups were estimated based on the animals dentition and those animals <12
months were considered as juveniles while those animals 12months were
considered mature. These animals had no apparent disease or infection during the
study.
The sera were tested using commercially available Toxoplasma test kit
(ImmunoComb Feline Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila felis IgG Antibody
Test Kit, Biogal Laboratories, Kibbutz Galed, Israel).
Interpretation of the
ImmunoComb reactions (Figure 3) was made using the BiogalCombScan 2000
(BioGal Laboratories, Kibbutz Galed, Israel). Approximate Z-test (=0.05) and
Fischers Exact test (=0.05) were used for analysis.

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Figure 2. Sample of the commercially available Toxoplasma gondii antibody

ImmunoComb card with positive and negative reactions.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of thirty domestic short-haired cats, found within a wildlife facility in
Metro Manila were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. These animals have
been assessed and were found to be negative for parasitic and protozoan parasites
in direct fecal examination. Routine blood test (PCV, tWBC, relative and absolute
dWBC) results were all within normal ranges (Table 1).
The results summarized in Table 2 show that 46.67% (14/30) of the cats
had serologic confirmation of exposure to T. gondii. These results are closely
similar to the reports made by Molina and Ridley-Dash (2008) in Kabacan, Cotabato
and Advincula et al. (2010) within urban communities of Sta. Rosa and San Pedro,
Laguna, Philippines, which reported 33.3% and 46.67% of positively exposed
animals, respectively. Approximate Z-test (=0.05) showed that there was no
significant proportion between seropositive and seronegative cats.
The parasite may have been acquired by these animals via ingestion of raw
or undercooked oocyst-infected meat of animals, contaminated food or water or in
pregnant animals, transplacentally (Fayer, 1981). Carnivorous animals in the wild
and feral cats get infected by chronically feeding on infected meat, prey or carreon
(Lucas et al., 1999; De Craeye et al., 2011) and in this case, possibly from ingestion
of oocyst in rodents and birds. Furthermore, these animals may have also acquired
infection by direct contact with environmentally resistant oocyst in the soil and water
(Elmore et al., 2010), since these cats were left to roam around the facility.
With regards to gender, males were found to have higher frequency at
66.67% (10/15) than females with 26.67% (4/15). This may be due to its behavioural
habits of roaming and territoriality which increases the possible contact of these

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103

Table 1. Hematologic values of domestic short haired cats.

Parameters

MeanSD

Reference values*

PCV (%)

32.382 4.51

27.86 - 36.94

Total WBC (cells/l)

17,020 2.44

10,648 - 19,648

239 7

0 - 250

Segmented neutrophils

10,671 268

10,268 10,974

Lymphocytes

3,914.6 185

1439 - 7007

Monocytes

510 216

57 - 982

Eosinophils

887 27

245 - 915

None observed

None observed

Absolute differential WBC (cells/l)

Banded neutrophils

Basophils

*Peralta AM and Bisa MTB. 2000. Hematologic Profile of Apparently Healthy

Domestic Shorthair Cats (Felis domesticus) in Los Baos. (Unpublished data).

Table 2. Frequency distribution of domestic short haired cats (n=30) with serologic
evidence of exposure to T. gondii by sex.
Interpretation
Seronegative (1:16)
Seropositive (1:32)
Total

Males%
5/15 (33.33)
10/15 (66.67)
15

Females %
11/15 (73.33)
4/15 (26.67)
15

Total (%)
16 (53.33)
14 (46.67)
30 (100)

animals to oocysts contaminated soil and water. This finding is similar to those
reported by Lucas et al. (1999), Pena et al. (2006) and Advincula et al. (2010).
As for age, all the domestic short-haired cats with serologic evidence of
exposure to T. gondii were mature (Table 3). None of the juvenile animals tested
was found to be positive. Among the mature domestic short haired cats, 51.85%
(14/27) had serologic evidence of T. gondii infection. Most feline infections occur
post-natally through ingestion of infected tissue cysts (Elmore et al., 2010).
Domestic and wild cats become infected after weaning, when these animals start to
hunt for small rodents and birds (Lucas et al., 1999). This may account for the

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Table 3. Frequency distribution of domestic short-haired cats (n=30) with serologic

evidence of exposure to T. gondii by age.

Age
Mature ( 12 months)
Juvenile (<12 months)
Total

Total (%)
14/27 (51.85)
0/3 (0.00)
14/30 (46.67)

higher frequency in adult animals as these animals have greater tendency to roam
and hunt smaller prey or ingest oocysts infected carreon or be in contact with
oocysts contaminated soil and water. Fischers Exact test (=0.05) showed no
significant correlation between the occurrence of T. gondii antibodies to sex and
age.
The study shows that there is relatively high serologic evidence that the
domestic short-haired cats found within a wildlife facility in Metro Manila, are
exposed to Toxoplasma gondii. These values were similar to those previously
reported and, thus, may show a possible trend in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in
the country. However, further studies in other locations or on a national level may be
needed to prove this.
Kawashima et al. (2000) reported an overall 11% seropositivity in humans in
Metro Manila, which confirms the presence of the parasite in human population.
Although this value is lower than what was reported in this study, nonetheless, it
opens the possibility of an active cycle of T. gondii in an area where cats and
humans co-exist.

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