Risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in hunting, pet and watchdogs from southern Spain and northern Africa

- This study is the first report on Toxoplasma gondii infection in pet dogs from Spain and Ceuta (Northern Africa).
- T. gondii is widespread in dogs in Southern Spain and Ceuta, which might have important implications for public health.
- Age, hunter activity and size were risk factors potentially associated with T. gondii infection in dogs.
- Hygienic measures are recommended to reduce the transmission of T. gondii from dogs to humans.

Dogs can act as reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondii infections for humans and other hosts. Here we determined seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in dogs from Andalusia (Southern Spain) and Ceuta (Northern Africa). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 235 out of 769 dogs (30.6%; CI95%: 27.3-33.8) by the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off of 1:25) with titers of 1:25 in 91, 1:50 in 43, 1:100 in 84, and ≥ 1:500 in 17 dogs. The main risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in dogs were age (higher seroprevalence in older dogs), hunter activity and size (higher seroprevalence in larger and medium dogs). This is the first study on T. gondii infection in pet dogs from Spain and Ceuta. The results indicate that T. gondii is widespread in dogs in mainland Spain and Ceuta, which might have important implications for public health.