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Little is known concerning the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in people and animals in rural Mexico. Serum samples and tissues from 150 dogs (Canis familaris), 150 cats (Felis catus), 65 opossums (Didelphis virginianus), 249 rats (Rattus spp.), 127 mice (Mus musculus), and 69 squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus) from the Durango area were evaluated for T. gondii infection. Using a modified agglutination test and a serum dilution of 1:25, antibodies to this parasite were found in 68 (45.3%) of 150 dogs, 14 (9.3%) of 150 cats, 11 (16.6%) of 66 opossums, 2 (0.8%) of 249 rats, 4 (3.1%) of 127 mice, and 0 of 69 squirrels. Tissues (brain and heart) of dogs, cats, opossums, rats, mice, and squirrels were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Viable T. gondii was isolated in tissues from 3 of 28 seropositive dogs and 5 of 8 seropositive cats, but not from the other animals. The DNA obtained from the 3 T. gondii isolates from dogs, 6 isolates from 5 cats, and 4 isolates from free-range chickens from Mexico, previously isolated, were genotyped. The PCR-RFLP typing, which used 11 markers (B1, SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico), identified 5 genotypes. One genotype (the 4 chicken isolates) belongs to the clonal Type III lineage, three genotypes were reported in previous reports, and 1 genotype is unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is scarce information concerning the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in people of rural Mexico. Anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antibodies were sought in 462 adult inhabitants from 3 rural communities of Durango, Mexico, using enzyme-linked immunoassays. In total, 110 (23.8%) of 463 persons had IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. Ten (2.2%) of them also had IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies. Prevalences of T. gondii IgG antibodies in the 3 communities varied from 14.8 to 35.8%. The highest prevalence of infection was observed in participants older than 70 yr and in those with good housing conditions. Toxoplasma gondii infection was significantly associated with consumption of squirrel (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-16.05) and turkey meat (adjusted OR = 4.58; 95% CI = 1.14-18.44). This is the first epidemiological study of T. gondii prevalence in rural Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in sera from 105 domestic cats from Durango City, Mexico. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to this parasite were found in 21% of the 105 cats, with titers of 1:25 in 3 cats, 1:50 in 4 cats, 1:200 in 5 cats, 1:400 in 2 cats, 1:800 in 2 cats, 1:1,600 in 4 cats, and 1:3,200 or higher in 2 cats. Cats older than 1 yr had a significantly higher frequency of infection than that found in cats younger than 0.5 yr (41 vs. 13.2%, respectively; odds ratio = 4.55; 95% CI = 1.24-17.18; P = 0.01). Overall, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in cats in Durango, Mexico, is much lower compared with those reported in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are structurally similar parasites, with many hosts in common. The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum was determined in sera from dogs from Durango City, Mexico. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 52 (51 .5%) of the 101 dogs with titers of 1:25 in 27, 1:50 in 11, 1:100 in 5, 1:200 in 4, 1:400 in 2, 1:800 in 2, and 1:3,200 or higher in 1. Antibodies to N. caninum were determined by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the Neospora sp. agglutination test (NAT). Two of the 101 dogs had N. caninum antibodies; these dogs did not have T. gondii antibodies, supporting the specificity of the tests used. The N. caninum antibody titers of the 2 dogs were: 1:400 by IFAT and 1:200 by NAT in 1, and 1:25 by NAT and IFAT in the other. Results indicate that these 2 structurally similar protozoans are antigenically different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]