Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Bred Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in China

Abstract Little is known of the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in bred cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in China. In the present survey, 240 serum samples of cynomolgus monkeys from 4 nonhuman primate centers in Guangxi Zhuang Nationality Autonomous Region (GX), and 120 serum samples from 2 nonhuman primate centers in Guangdong Province (GD) were obtained, and the modified agglutination test (MAT) was performed to assay for anti–T. gondii antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT titer of 1∶16 or higher) were found in 0 of 120 (0/120) samples in GD, and 5 (2.1%) of 240 sera with titers of 1∶16 in 1, 1∶64 or higher in 4 in primate centers from GX. The total prevalence of T. gondii in bred cynomolgus monkeys was 1.4% (5/360, MAT titer ≥ 1∶16) in southern China according to our investigation. To our knowledge, this is the first seropositive report in China on the prevalence of anti–T. gondii antibodies in bred cynomolgus monkeys using MAT.