Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in anatolian ground squirrels, Spermophilus xanthophrymnus (Rodentia: Sciuridae) from Nigde, Turkey

Spermophilus xanthophrymnus (Rodentia: Sciuridae), the Anatolian ground squirrel, a wild rodent found in Central Anatolia of Turkey was studied to investigate the prevalence of antibodies to the protozoon parasite Toxoplasma gondii. A total of 105 sera from appearently healthy Anatolian ground squirrels (Spermophilus xanthophrymnus) were tested for T gondii antibodies by the Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT). 12 of 105 (11.4%) Anatolian ground squirrels were found to be seropositive for T gondii antibodies at the titer of 1:16 and over. There was no statistically significant difference between seropositivity rates and genders (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed the existence of T. gondii in the Anatolian ground squirrels (Spermophilus xanthophrymnus). This is the first report on toxoplasmosis in the Anatolian ground squirrels from Turkey.