Prevalence Of Igg Antibodies To Encephalitozoon Cuniculi, Toxoplasma Gondii, And Sarcocystis Neurona In Domestic Cats

dc.contributor.authorHsu, Hsing-Ho Vashaen
dc.contributor.committeechairLindsay, David S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWitonsky, Sharon G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberZajac, Anne M.en
dc.contributor.departmentBiomedical and Veterinary Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:43:37Zen
dc.date.adate2010-08-30en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:43:37Zen
dc.date.issued2010-08-10en
dc.date.rdate2010-08-30en
dc.date.sdate2010-08-23en
dc.description.abstractEncephalitozoon cuniculi, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona are intracellular parasites that infect a wide range of mammalian host species including domestic cats. The prevalence of antibodies to these parasites in cats was examined using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay. E. cuniculi targets the kidneys of rabbits but the prevalence of disease in cats is unknown. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of illness in cats. T. gondii is a widespread parasite of cats; however, it is not considered a major causative agent of CKD. The first hypothesis was that E. cuniculi and T. gondii are unrecognized causes of chronic kidney disease in domestic cats. Serum and plasma samples were examined for protozoal antibodies from 232 feline patients at the VMRCVM Teaching Hospital. Thirty-six of the 232 samples met the IRIS criteria for CKD. Antibodies to E. cuniculi were found in 15 samples, 4 of which came from cats with CKD. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 63 samples; 10 cats of the 63 had CKD. These were not significantly different from cats with no CKD and the null hypothesis was rejected. Domestic cats, armadillos, raccoons and skunks are intermediate hosts (IH) for S. neurona while opossums are the definitive host (DH). The seroprevalence of S. neurona was examined in domestic cats from Virginia and Pennsylvania. The second hypothesis was that domestic cats are important IH for S. neurona transmission. A low seroprevalence was found in 32 of the 441 cats and the null hypothesis was rejected.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen
dc.identifier.otheretd-08232010-140244en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08232010-140244/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/44421en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartHsu_HV_T_2010.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectcaten
dc.subjectchronic kidney diseaseen
dc.subjectToxoplasma gondiien
dc.subjectSarcocystis neuronaen
dc.subjectEncephalitozoon cuniculien
dc.titlePrevalence Of Igg Antibodies To Encephalitozoon Cuniculi, Toxoplasma Gondii, And Sarcocystis Neurona In Domestic Catsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiomedical and Veterinary Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen

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