Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among sylvatic rodents in Poland

Abstrakt

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular Apicomplexan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts, including humans and rodents. Rodents are considered to be reservoirs of infection for their predators, including cats, felids, pigs, and wild boars. We conducted a multi-site, long-term study on T. gondii in northeastern Poland. The study aimed to monitor the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the four abundant vole species found in the region (Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis, and Alexandromys oeconomus) and to assess the influence of both extrinsic (year of study and study site) and intrinsic (host sex and host age) factors on seroprevalence. A bespoke enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibodies against T. gondii. We examined 577 rodent individuals and detected T. gondii antibodies in the sera of all four rodent species with an overall seroprevalence of 5.5% [4.2–7.3] (3.6% [2.6–4.9] for M. glareolus and 20% [12–30.9] for M. arvalis, M. agrestis, and A. oeconomus). Seroprevalence in bank voles varied significantly between host age and sex. Seroprevalence increased with host age and was higher in females than males. These results contribute to our understanding of the distribution and abundance of T. gondii in voles in Poland and confirm that T. gondii also circulates in M. glareolus and M. arvalis, M. agrestis and A. oeconomus. Therefore, they may potentially play a role as reservoirs of this parasite in the sylvatic environment

Autorzy

Daniela Antolová
Daniela Antolová
Katarzyna Tołkacz
Katarzyna Tołkacz
Mohammed Alsarraf
Mohammed Alsarraf
Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
Joanna Nowicka
Joanna Nowicka
Beata Biernat
Beata Biernat
Jerzy M. Behnke
Jerzy M. Behnke
Anna Bajer
Anna Bajer
artykuł
Animals
Angielski
2021
11
4
1048
otwarte czasopismo
CC BY 4.0 Uznanie autorstwa 4.0
ostateczna wersja opublikowana
w momencie opublikowania
2021-04-08
100
3,231
1
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