PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is distributed worldwide and infects many species of warm-blooded animals. Most mammals, including humans, can serve as intermediate hosts. This pathogen, with its zoonotic potential, causes toxoplasmosis, a condition that can range from subclinical to fatal in humans. It is therefore important to assess the occurrence of the pathogen, even if only indirectly through the detection of antibodies. Epidemiological data on the seroprevalence in wild animals, including invasive species, are rare in Poland. Therefore, we tested 197 wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) and 89 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Zgorzelec County, southwestern Poland, for the presence of antibodies. Samples were collected between January 2019 and December 2020 and analysed using a commercial indirect modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off 1:25). The statistical analysis revealed significant differences in seroprevalence between the two predatory species. Of the 197 surveyed raccoons, 96 (48.73%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 41.73-55.73%) tested positive, while 25 of the 89 raccoon dogs (28.09%; 95% CI: 18.70-37.48%) were positive. Regarding risk factors, body weight and sex influenced the presence of T. gondii antibodies in both the species, with a higher likelihood of seropositivity among heavier animals and females, respectively. For raccoon dogs, juveniles were more likely to be seropositive than adults at a given weight. Our results suggest that T. gondii infection is widespread in the regional raccoon and raccoon dog populations, indicating a high level of parasite circulation in the environment.
摘要：
细胞内原生动物弓形虫分布于世界各地，感染多种温血动物。大多数哺乳动物,包括人类,可以作为中间主机。这种病原体,具有人畜共患的潜力，导致弓形虫病,在人类中可以从亚临床到致命的疾病。因此，评估病原体的发生非常重要，即使只是间接通过检测抗体。关于野生动物血清阳性率的流行病学数据，包括入侵物种,在波兰很少见。因此,我们测试了Zgorzelec县的197只野生浣熊（Procyonlotor）和89只浣熊犬（Nyctereutesprocyonoides），波兰西南部,抗体的存在。在2019年1月至2020年12月之间收集样品，并使用商业间接改良凝集测试（MAT，截止时间1:25）。统计分析显示，两种捕食物种之间的血清阳性率存在显着差异。在197只接受调查的浣熊中，96（48.73％；95％置信区间（CI）：41.73-55.73％）检测呈阳性，而89只浣熊犬中的25只(28.09%;95%CI:18.70-37.48%)为阳性。关于风险因素，体重和性别影响了这两个物种中弓形虫抗体的存在，较重的动物和雌性中血清阳性的可能性更高，分别。对于浣熊狗来说,在给定体重下，青少年比成年人更可能是血清阳性。我们的研究结果表明，弓形虫感染是广泛的区域浣熊和浣熊的狗，表明环境中的寄生虫循环水平很高。
