Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic dogs from Lima City in Peru

Abstract

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animal hosts, including humans, causes the zoonosis toxoplasmosis. This parasite affects dogs, and infections may lead to neuromuscular problems in them. Likewise, dogs can act as sentinels for toxoplasmosis, providing valuable information on the prevalence of the parasite in a given area. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in dogs from Lima City in Peru. A total of 120 sera from domestic dogs were used to detect IgG antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Forty dogs tested positive for the MAT, indicating a seroprevalence of 33.3 % (CI95% 24.9–41.8 %). Only the variable sex demonstrated a statistical association with exposure to T. gondii in dogs, with males exhibiting odds of 2.40 (CI95% 1.10–5.37) compared to females. Since dogs are the main human pet, they could act as sentinels to estimate the situation of toxoplasmosis in humans. Our findings highlight the need to continue epidemiological surveillance of T. gondii in canine populations in various localities of Peru. © 2024