PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND OTHER INTESTINAL PARASITES IN CATS IN CHIBA PREFECTURE, JAPAN

To survey the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and other parasites in cats using the sucrose flotation method, fecal samples were collected from stray cats in Chiba Prefecture (outside Chiba City) and Chiba City from December 1998 to December 1999. T gondii oocysts were detected in only one of 326 cats examined (0.3%), while 13.4% of the cat sera (13/97) were serologically positive for anti-T gondii antibodies by the latex agglutination test. However, the antibody titers in these sera were relatively low. The prevalence of protozoa infections in cats was higher in Chiba City area than outside Chiba City. The high prevalence of S. erinaceieuropaei infection in cats was found in the Chiba Prefectural area.