Detection of Toxoplasmosis in Cats by Traditional and PCR Techniques in Baghdad

Abstract

This study was conducted to reveal the rate of infection with Toxoplasma parasite in 100 domestic cats by traditional method (floatation technique) and conventional PCR, in Baghdad province during October 2020 to March 2021. The total infection rate of Toxoplasma by floatation method with sheathes solution was 14%, According to study regions, the rate of infection with Toxoplasma was 23.8% in Abu-Ghraib, 15.38% in Al-Amriyah, 12% in Al-Saydiya and 7.14% in Hay Al-Jamia. According to months, the higher infection rate was reported in October 29.41%, while the lower rate in January (0%). Regarding age of study animals, cats older than one year of age were revealed a higher rate of infection (17.85%), whereas the lower rate recorded in cats of less than one year (9.09%). Concerning the sex of study cats, female and male cats were showed, respectively, 22.22% and 9.37% of infection with significant increases in females. Conventional polymerase chain reaction using B1 gene recoded 20% rate of infection with Toxoplasma in domestic cats.