Toxoplasma gondii antibody in domestic cats in Melbourne.

To determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in a population of domestic cats in Melbourne. An ELISA assay was used to measure T gondii antibody titres in 103 cats from north-eastern Melbourne. Cats were obtained from outer suburban areas (less than 30 km from the Melbourne GPO) and from rural areas (more than 30 km from the Melbourne GPO). Thirty-nine percent of cats were positive for T gondii IgG. Older cats tended to have higher antibody titres. There was no significant difference in the T gondii antibody titres between males and females, or between cats living in urban areas and cats from rural areas. A significant proportion of cats from Melbourne have been exposed to Toxoplasma. This may have implications for the health of wildlife and humans.