The Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Cats from the Kars Region, Turkey

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in indoor cats with outdoor access, in the vicinity of the Kars province. The study group consisted of 102 male and female indoor cats with outdoor access, aged 1-8 years, which were from the Kars province. Serum samples were tested by the Sabin-Feldman dye test (SFDT) for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. When performing the SFDT, antibody titres of 1: 16 and above were considered to be positive. From the samples (n=102) tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies, 45 (44.1%) had an antibody titre of 1: 16 and above. The distribution of seropositivity according to the location was: Kars city centre (36.8%), Akyaka (58.8%), Arpacay (83.3%), Sarikamis (12.5%), Selim (57.1%) and Susuz (55.6%). The differences between location seropositivity rate were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). However, seropositivity according to age and sex was not significant (P>0.05). This study revealed first time the seropositivity the presence of T. gondii in cats from Kars province with high seropositivity rate of cats in this region.