Carolina Salazar

Dr. Carolina Salazar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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17 January 2022 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MGMARIA DE LA LUZ Galvan-Ramirez
MARIA DE LA LUZ Galvan-Ramirez
CPCesar Pedroza-Roldan
Cesar Pedroza-Roldan
CPCesar Pedroza-Roldan
Cesar Pedroza-Roldan
CSCarolina Salazar
Carolina Salazar
KOKaren Lissete Ocampo-Figueroa
Karen Lissete Ocampo-Figueroa
VPVarinia Margarita Paez-Magallán
Varinia Margarita Paez-Magallán
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The sexual reproductive cycle of Toxoplasma takes place in the small intestine of felines, the definitive hosts. In the final part of the sexual cycle, T. gondii forms oocysts in infected cats. Oocysts transferred via the faeces to the environment are highly infectious to both animals and humans. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in cats from the metropolitan region of Guadalajara in western Mexico. Western blotting and ELISA for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was performed, and Toxoplasma DNA was identified using polymerase chain reaction. Prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was 14.8% (44/297), and only 2/297 cases were positive for PCR. Cats older than one year were at an increased risk of infection (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.844–8.362). Sex, raw meat feeding, hunting habits, vaccination status, and body condition were not associated with positivity. The prevalence of T. gondii infection determined with Western blot in cats in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, was lower than that reported in previous studies.