Marine College, Shandong University at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong Province, 264209, People's Republic of China.
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.
BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Aug 29;18(1):430. doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3307-2.
Pet ownership in China has been steadily increasing over recent years. However, the risk of pet-associated zoonotic infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii remains poorly defined.
In a cross-sectional survey, we have determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pet dogs and cats, and pet owners. Serum samples were collected from 360 pets and 460 corresponding pet owners between March 2016 to June 2017, from Shandong province, eastern China. Sera from the animals were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using an indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) and from the pet owners using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 67 of 360 (18.61%) pets. Seroprevalence of T. gondii in pet cats and dogs was 21.67% and 15.56%, respectively. IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in 79 (17.17%) and 4 (0.87%) of pet owners, respectively; with a total of 83 of 460 (18.04%) pet owners testing seropositive for T. gondii. Our seroprevalence data also suggest that cat owners in general and female pet owners in particular could face a higher risk of acquiring T. gondii infection.
Significant levels of anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in the pets and their owners in Shandong province, eastern China, indicating a potential zoonotic risk. Prophylactic measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of pet owner's exposure to T. gondii infection.
近年来，中国的宠物拥有量稳步增长。然而，宠物相关的弓形虫原生动物寄生虫感染的风险仍未得到明确界定。
在一项横断面调查中，我们确定了宠物犬和猫以及宠物主人感染弓形虫的血清阳性率。2016 年 3 月至 2017 年 6 月，我们从中国东部山东省采集了 360 只宠物和 460 只相应宠物主人的血清样本。使用间接血凝试验（IHA）检测动物血清中的抗弓形虫抗体，使用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测宠物主人的血清中的抗弓形虫抗体。
在 360 只宠物中，有 67 只（18.61%）检测出抗弓形虫抗体。宠物猫和狗的弓形虫血清阳性率分别为 21.67%和 15.56%。在 460 名宠物主人中，检测到 IgG 和 IgM 抗体的分别有 79 名（17.17%）和 4 名（0.87%），共有 83 名（18.04%）宠物主人的弓形虫血清呈阳性。我们的血清阳性率数据还表明，一般来说，猫主人，特别是女性宠物主人，面临着更高的感染弓形虫的风险。
在中国东部山东省的宠物及其主人中，检测到大量的抗弓形虫抗体，表明存在潜在的人畜共患病风险。应采取预防措施，降低宠物主人感染弓形虫的风险。
