Kazem Behine - MSc Student, Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Somayeh Namroodi - Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Abdolrasoul SalmanMahiny - Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Background and aims: Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease of warm-blooded animals, is notablyinfluenced by environmental features. Recognizing spatial pattern of Toxoplasma gondii distributionin environment can provide significant contributions to public health and toxoplasmosis control. Thisstudy was designed to survey the frequency of T. gondii antibody in rural dogs and cats and alsoanalyze possible relation between environmental factors and spatial distribution of T. gondiiantibodyin Golestan province, using GIS.Methods: From ۲۰۱۵ to ۲۰۱۶, ۱۰۶ rural cats and ۱۵۴ rural dogs were randomly sampled. Serumsamples were tested for presence of T. gondii antibody through modified agglutination test (MAT). Therelation between T. gondii antibody frequency and environmental factors was surveyed in ArcGIS andIdrisi Selva software with multiple linear regression model.Results: From sampled rural cats and rural dogs, ۸۵ (۸۰.۱%) and ۹۹ (۶۴.۲%) were positive for T.gondii antibody, respectively. The highest frequency was seen in areas with temperate climate, Gorgan(۸۲.۴%) with a humidity of ۷۸%, rainfall of ۵۵۱ mm and temperature of ۱۲.۵°C. The lowest rate wasin Maravetappeh (۶۰.۸%) with a humidity of ۷۰%, rainfall of ۴۱۸ mm and temperature of ۱۵.۳۷°C.About ۵۳% of the difference in the T. gondii antibody frequency in sampled population was explainedby climatic condition of each region.Conclusion: The output presented here can facilitate the identification of high risk areas, based onclimate condition, to apply effective planning control measures.

Toxoplasma gondii, Golestan, GIS