Feline patent Toxoplasma-like coccidiosis among feral cats (Felis catus) in Doha city, Qatar and its immediate surroundings

Abstract

Doha city has a high feral cat population and studies of hospital records in Doha have shown that human toxoplasmosis also occurs. Clearly, there is a need to understand the role of cats as vectors of human toxoplasmosis in the city and as a first step we assessed the extent of patent Toxoplasma-like coccidial infections among feral cats. Oocysts in cat faeces were detected between June 2008 and April 2010, from a range of locations radiating out of the city centre in concentric semi circular/elliptic rings and by north, west and south divisions within each of the rings. In total 4,652 cats were sampled and overall prevalence of oocysts was 9.1%. Prevalence was 10.1% in the first summer, and then dropped to 8.4% in the following winter and further to 6.8% in the next summer before rising to 10.6% in the final winter of the study; this interaction between annual period and season was significant. There were also significant changes in prevalence across each of the consecutive months of the study, but no clear pattern was evident. Prevalence did not vary significantly by city sector and there was no difference in prevalence between the host sexes. We conclude therefore, that despite minor and significant perturbations, the prevalence of patent Toxoplasma-like coccidial infections among cats in Doha is remarkably stable throughout the year, across years and spatially within the city's districts.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in feral cats in Qatar

“…In the summer season, daytime temperatures frequently exceed 45 °C and seldom fall below 18 °C at night. Humidity peaks in August at 90%, before subsiding to 70% towards the end of October [4]. The latter months of the summer season certainly fall within this definition of the optimal climatic conditions for transmission.…”

“…Feral cats were caught live as part of the routine activities of the Qatar Cat Control Unit as described previously [4]. Briefly, trapped adult cats that were eligible for the trap-neuter-return program were transported to a shelter for sterilization.…”

“…Initially, full factorial models were fitted, incorporating as factors SEX (at 2 levels, males and females), AREA (at 2 levels, 1 for urban areas [Al Hilal, Bin Omran, Al Sadd, Umm-Ghwailina, Al Salata, Madinat Khalifa, Al Nasr, Al Maamoura, Al Dafna, Al Muntzah, Al Markhiya, Al Najma, Old Airport, Al Asiri] and 2 for suburban areas [Al Azizia, Al Rayyan, Al Luqta, Al Waab, Abu Hamour, Al Wakrah, Muaither, Um Al Amad, Shahaniya, Al Gharrafa, Al Kharaitiyat, Umm Salal, Al Zaghwa, Al Wajba, Al Khor, Al Khissa]) and SEASON (at 2 levels, summer [May-October] and winter [November-April]). INFECTION, reflecting the presence or absence of antibodies to T. gondii (overall or at specific dilutions) was coded as a binary factor, and the cut-off for statistical significance was considered to be a P value of 0.05 (two tailed) [4]. …”

“…Cats were introduced to Qatar in the 1960s to control the high rodent population in the country, but subsequently they in turn reproduced rapidly [4]. The current density of cats in Qatar may pose a risk for humans, as cats are natural hosts for a wide range of zoonotic pathogens, including T. gondii .…”

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii‐like oocyst shedding in feral and owned cats in Damascus, Syria

“…The composition of the diet of different groups of cats in different regions likely contributes to the differences in oocyst shedding reported. Studies from different countries on the prevalence of T. gondii ‐like oocysts performed by examining fecal samples from cats showed the prevalence of infection in cats to be 2.1% of 240 in Kuwait, 28 9.1% of 4652 in Doha city, 29 23% of 100 in Nouakchott using the flotation method, 30 35.6% of 215 domestic cats in central and south Portugal, 31 and 2.78% of 360 fecal samples in Henan and Beijing in central China examined using the same method as used in our study 32 . Studies from 9 of Korea's largest cities and all regions of Sweden indicate that there is minimal risk of T. gondii ‐like transmission from owned cats to humans 33,34 .…”