A comparison between serological and molecular tests in diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among stray cats in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Graduate Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infects all species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and domestic cats and other felidae are its definitive hosts. The aim of the present survey was to compare serological and molecular tests in accurate diagnosis of T. gondii infection among stray cats in Ahvaz, Iran. A total of 100 cats were examined for the detection of serum antibodies against T. gondii (chronic phase) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and modified agglutination test (MAT) and for the presence of antigen in the blood (active phase) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The studied cats were divided into seven age groups. According to the obtained results from ELISA, MAT, and PCR, the prevalence rates of T. gondii infection were 30%, 39%, and 8%, respectively. Kappa test showed that there was a good agreement between ELISA and MAT results (0.80), but it was obtained 0.24 for MAT and PCR and 0.34 for ELISA and PCR, indicating a fair agreement between them. The seroprevalence of this parasite was 53.33% and 48.71% in male cats and 46.66% and 51.28% in females based on ELISA and MAT, respectively. Gender did not significantly affect the prevalence of this infection (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference between age groups, with the highest rate belonging to cats aged less than three years (P<0.05). It can be concluded that the serologic tests such as ELISA and MAT have a good agreement in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Our findings showed that a considerable percentage of the cats were infected with chronic form of toxoplasmosis.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [French]

Comparaison des tests sérologiques et moléculaires dans le diagnostic de l'infection causée par Toxoplasma Gonda chez les chats errants de la ville d'Ahvaz au sud-ouest de l'Iran

Abstract [French]

Toxoplasma Gonda contamine toutes les espèces d'animaux à sang chaud y compris les humains. Les chats domestiques et les autres féliformes sont les hôtes définitifs. Le but de la présente études est la comparaison des tests sérologiques et moléculaires dans le diagnostic de l'infection causée par Toxoplasma Gonda chez les chats errants dans la région d'Ahvaz. Un total de 100 chats ont été examinés par la méthode ELISA et test d'agglutination modifié (MAT) pour déterminer les anticorps sériques dirigés contre Toxoplasma Gonda (phase chronique), ils ont aussi été examinés par la méthode PCR pour déterminer les antigènes dans le sang (phase aiguë). Selon l'âge, les chats étudiés ont été divisés en 7 groupes. D'après les résultats obtenus des techniques ELISA, MAT et PCR, la prévalence de l'infection par Toxoplasma Gonda était respectivement 30, 39 et 8 pour cent. Le test de Kappa a montré que dans la comparaison entre les tests ELISA et MAT, l'accord était bon (0.80), mais ce chiffre était 0.24 pour les tests de MAT et PCR et 0.34 pour les tests ELISA et PCR et l'accord entre eux était faible. Séroprévalence chez les chats mâles était 53.33 et 48.71 et chez les femelles était 46.55 et 51.28, selon les méthodes ELISA et MAT. Le genre des animaux n'a eu aucun effet significatif sur l'incidence de l'infection (p>0.05). Mais la différence entre les divers groupes d'âge était significative. Le taux d'infection le plus élevé chez les jeunes chats de moins de 3 ans était moins de 3 (p<0.05). On peut conclure que les tests sérologiques comme ELISA et MAT sont en bon accord l'un avec l'autre dans le diagnostic de la toxoplasmose. Nos résultats ont indiqué qu'un pourcentage important des chats étaient infectés par des formes chroniques de toxoplasmose.

Keywords [French]

  • Toxoplasma Gonda
  • ELISA
  • MAT
  • PCR
  • Chat

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Archives of Razi Institute
Volume 72, Issue 2
July and August 2017
Pages 107-114

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