University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Prevalence of Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Woodchucks across an Urban–rural Gradient

Lehrer, Elizabeth W.; Fredebaugh, Shannon L.; Schooley, Robert L.; Mateus-Pinilla, Nohra E.

Content Files
Lehrer et al 2010_Prevalence of Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Woodchucks across an Urban–rural Gradient.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/118061

Description

Title
Prevalence of Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in Woodchucks across an Urban–rural Gradient
Author(s)
  • Lehrer, Elizabeth W.
  • Fredebaugh, Shannon L.
  • Schooley, Robert L.
  • Mateus-Pinilla, Nohra E.
Issue Date
2010-07
Keyword(s)
  • Marmota monax
  • Toxoplasma gondii
  • urbanization
  • woodchuck
Date of Ingest
2023-05-17T20:05:04-05:00
Abstract
Increasing urbanization has impor- tant consequences for wildlife, including the potential for higher prevalence of diseases within ‘‘urban adapter’’ species exposed to spillover from domestic animals. We investi- gated whether prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in woodchucks (Marmota monax) was related to urbanization in a Midwestern landscape. We collected serum samples from adult woodchucks captured across an urban–rural gradient in Illinois, USA in May–November 2007. We used an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) on the serum samples to detect T. gondii antibodies. Five of 35 (14.3%) sera from woodchucks had detectable T. gondii antibodies. Prevalence was related positively to urbanization. All positive samples were from individuals inhabiting areas in which urban land cover exceeded 70%. Urban woodchucks are likely exposed to high levels of T. gondii oocysts in the environment due to habitat overlap with the definitive hosts for the parasite, domestic and feral cats, which reach high densities in urban areas.
Type of Resource
text

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Staff Publications, Presentations, Reports, Etc. - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
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