Diagnosis and prevention of feline toxoplasmosis

At the "Small Animal Clinic of the University of Veterinary Science" in Brno during four years 442 sick and 178 clinically normal cats were examined in regard to incidence and diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Using the Sabin-Feldman reaction, antibodies against T.gondii were found in 40.3% of the cats (titer 4-128), whereas by means of complement fixation reaction and microprecipitation in agar gel, antibodies were found in 23.2% (titer 5-80) and 17.1% of the cats, respectively. Eight cats (1.3%) excreted T.gondii oocysts. The number of animals having specific antibodies increased statistically significant with age (P less than 0.01) and with particular hunting habits: it was higher in cats which were usually catching small rodents (P less than 0.01). A lower toxoplasmosis incidence was observed in indoor-cats (P less than 0.005) and in cats fed with boiled food only (P less than 0.005). In 35% of the cats showing no clinical symptoms of toxoplasmosis, there were found antibodies against T.gondii. Comparison of clinically normal and sick cats revealed that antibodies against T.gondii occurred significantly more often in cats with enlarged lymph nodes (P less than 0.01), with a disease of the digestive tract (P less than 0.01), of the liver (P less than 0.01), and of the nervous system (P less than 0.01). Several recommendations for diagnosis and prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis in cats are given.