Toxoplasmosis and cats in New Guinea
Wallace, G.D.; Zigas, V.; Gajdusek, D.C.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 23(1): 8-14
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 4810308 Document Number: 80081
Toxoplasma antibody was not detected in, or was found in less than 2% of, primitive New Guineans inhabiting areas where either fields had never been present or where domestic cats had been recently introduced but were still limited in number and distribution. However, Toxoplasma antibody was detected in 14% to 34% of New Guineans living in areas where cats were numerous and had been present longer. In comparison, antibody was detected in 50% of Nonama Indians, a primitive people living in the Pacific jungles of Colombia, who also had no domestic cats but who hunt and eat neotropical Felidae.