Seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in domestic cats brought to small animal clinics in Kampala District, Uganda.

Abstract

Cats, as the definitive hosts, play an important role in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii. To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection in cats brought to small animal clinics in Kampala, Uganda, cat owners were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and whole blood of 80 cats were tested for T. gondii antibodies using IgG/IgM Antibody Rapid Test. The seroprevalence was determined as a percentage of the cats that tested positive for either IgM or IgG antibodies out of the total number tested. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors. The seroprevalence was estimated at 11.3% (95% CI: 5.3–20.3); 2.5% (95% CI: 0.3–8.7) of cats tested positive for IgG signifying past infection while 8.8% (95% CI: 3.6–17.2) tested positive for IgM, signifying recent infection. Cats owned by individuals aged 20 years or younger had a higher chance of being infected (OR = 0.12, AOR = 3.32) and cats fed raw food had a higher chance of being infected (OR = 5.51) Infection was less likely in neutered cats (OR = 0.09, AOR=0.10). Therefore, the relatively low seroprevalence of T. gondii in domestic cats in Kampala suggests a lower immediate risk of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts, though the identified risk factors warrant consideration to cat owners to prevent possible infection. Keywords: Cats, Toxoplasma gondii, Seroprevalence, Risk factors, IgG, IgM