Toxoplasma gondii detection from naturally infected cats (Felis catus) in Hawaiʻi

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting humans, mammals, and birds. The disease is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a coccidian protozoan. Cats are the definitive host of T. gondii and can shed oocysts in their feces into the environment. To address these objectives, 120 soil samples and 60 fecal samples were collected from four cat colony sites at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and nine fecal samples were obtained directly from cats from Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve on O'ahu. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was extracted and amplified using standard PCR procedures. DNA was detected in five fecal samples from UHM and two fecal samples from Ka'ena Point NAR, though no soil samples were positive. The presence of T. gondii at the university suggests that cat colonies may cause potential health hazards urban areas and the presence of actively infected cats at the NAR poses a disease risk to native wildlife.