Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in Domestic Cats and Their Associations with Clinical Signs

IF 1.5 3区农林科学 Q4 PARASITOLOGY

Acta Parasitologica Pub Date : 2026-07-04 DOI:10.1007/s11686-026-01334-w

Eva Bártová, Kamil Sedlák, Špela Vodlan, Marie Budíková, Karol Račka

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) induces immunosuppression and may predispose cats to opportunistic infections, including Toxoplasma gondii. Data on natural coinfections in domestic cats remain limited, particularly in Europe.

Methods

A total of 105 domestic cats from veterinary clinics and shelters in Slovenia and the Czech Republic were examined. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and FIV antibodies by an immunochromatographic test. Associations with sex, age, housing conditions, and clinical signs were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.

Results

Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 18.1% of cats, FIV antibodies in 10.5%, and coinfection in 4.8%. T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with young age, pet ownership, and the presence of clinical signs. FIV seropositivity was more frequent in males, young cats, pet cats, and clinically affected animals. Coinfection was observed more often in males and pet cats. Cats positive for T. gondii and/or FIV exhibited clinical signs significantly more frequently than seronegative cats (68% vs. 35%, p = 0.0036). Coinfected cats tended to present multiple categories of clinical signs more often than monoinfected cats, although this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of associations between host factors, T. gondii and FIV seropositivity, and clinical manifestations in naturally infected cats. Despite limitations related to sample size and serological testing, the findings contribute novel data on T. gondii/FIV coinfection in domestic cats in Central Europe.

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家猫刚地弓形虫和猫免疫缺陷病毒血清阳性率及其与临床体征的关系

目的猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）诱导免疫抑制，可能使猫易受机会性感染，包括刚地弓形虫。关于家猫自然共感染的数据仍然有限，特别是在欧洲。方法对来自斯洛文尼亚和捷克共和国兽医诊所和收容所的105只家猫进行调查。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测弓形虫抗体，免疫层析法检测FIV抗体。使用适当的统计检验分析了与性别、年龄、住房条件和临床症状的关系。结果检出弓形虫抗体18.1%，FIV抗体10.5%，合并感染4.8%。弓形虫血清阳性与年龄小、是否拥有宠物和是否存在临床症状显著相关。FIV血清阳性在雄性、幼猫、宠物猫和临床感染动物中更为常见。同时感染在公猫和宠物猫中更为常见。弓形虫和/或FIV阳性的猫比血清阴性的猫更频繁地表现出临床症状（68%对35%，p = 0.0036）。合并感染的猫比单一感染的猫更容易出现多种临床症状，尽管这种差异没有统计学意义。结论本研究为宿主因素、弓形虫和FIV血清阳性与自然感染猫的临床表现之间的关联提供了证据。尽管样本量和血清学检测存在局限性，但这些发现为中欧家猫中弓形虫/FIV合并感染提供了新的数据。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Acta Parasitologica 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

6.70%

发文量

149

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Acta Parasitologica is an international journal covering the latest advances in the subject. Acta Parasitologica publishes original papers on all aspects of parasitology and host-parasite relationships, including the latest discoveries in biochemical and molecular biology of parasites, their physiology, morphology, taxonomy and ecology, as well as original research papers on immunology, pathology, and epidemiology of parasitic diseases in the context of medical, veterinary and biological sciences. The journal also publishes short research notes, invited review articles, book reviews. The journal was founded in 1953 as "Acta Parasitologica Polonica" by the Polish Parasitological Society and since 1954 has been published by W. Stefanski Institute of Parasitology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. Since 1992 in has appeared as Acta Parasitologica in four issues per year.