Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis catus, Linnaeus 1758) living in Lima, Peru AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the frequency of infection by T. gondii in cats, by examining serum and fecal samples from animals attended at veterinary clinics in the Metropolitan Region of Lima, Peru. We collected and analyzed 154 cat serum samples and 50 fecal samples, regardless of the age, gender or breed. In parallel with the sample collections, the owners answered an epidemiological questionnaire that investigated the following variables: age group, gender, lifestyle (confined, semi-confined or free-living animals), feeding and hunting habits. The serum and fecal samples were analyzed using indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and coproparasitological tests, respectively. IHA showed that the frequency of cat exposure to T. gondii was 11%. Age and gender showed no association with exposure to the parasite. Exposure among the cats was associated with hunting (x 2 = 4.98, p = 0.016) and feeding habits (x 2 = 13.34, p = 0.001): those fed with raw meat were more exposed than those fed with commercial cat food (x 2 = 9.50, p = 0.004) or with homemade food (x 2 = 4.1, p = 0.027). The frequency of cats diagnosed in the chronic phase of T. gondii infection was 88% (15/17). No T. gondii oocysts were found in any of the 50 fecal samples examined.

RESUMENDos perros fueron diagnosticados con borreliosis y uno con anaplasmosis, ambos casos hallados por primera vez en la ciudad de Lima, Perú. Los animales presentaban signos inespecíficos como decaimiento y palidez de mucosas, y uno de ellos con petequias y equimosis en piel. El diagnóstico de laboratorio se hizo mediante una prueba de ELISA comercial. Palabras clave: borreliosis, anaplasmosis, Snap 4Dx ABSTRACTTwo dogs were diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis and one dog with anaplasmosis. The animals showed unspecific clinical signs like depression, pale mucose membranes, and one of them had petechiae and ecchymotic skin lesions. The laboratory diagnose was done by an ELISA commercial test. This is the first report of these diseases in Lima, Peru.