Enteric zoonotic organisms were detected in feces of 13.1% of cats, suggesting that cats, particularly those in homes of immunocompromised humans, should be evaluated for enteric zoonotic organisms.

The objective was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum IgG in the serum of cats. The ELISA was an indirect ELISA using soluble C. parvum oocyst antigens and a peroxidase-labeled anti-feline IgG secondary antibody. Sera from cats with Toxocara felis, Giardia spp., Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Isospora felis, Isospora rivolta, Toxoplasma gondii, or Taenia spp. infections were assayed in specificity studies. Following optimization, the ELISA and fecal examination for oocysts were performed on samples from 170 client-owned or humane society source cats and 1 cat inoculated orally with C. parvum oocysts. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were detected in feces (4/170; 2.4%), and C. parvum IgG was detected in serum (26/170; 15.3%) from naturally exposed cats. The seroprevalence data suggest that some cats in the geographical area studied were exposed to C. parvum, but persistent oocyst shedding was less common. The ELISA is not useful for predicting oocyst shedding in individual cats.

Abstract. Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV) is an important cause of feline ocular and respiratory disease, but the role the virus plays in central nervous system disease of cats has not been explored. The study described here was performed to validate an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect FHV-specific IgG antibodies for use in feline epidemiologic, ocular, and central nervous system disease studies. The indirect IgG ELISA was applied to serum, aqueous humor, and cerebrospinal fluid from cats. Serum FHV IgG ELISA results were compared with those of serum neutralization in client-owned cats and laboratory-housed cats following vaccination. Of the 100 client-owned cats tested by ELISA, 97 had detectable FHV IgG; 95 had titers Ͼ32. The FHV IgG ELISA was more sensitive than serum neutralization and could be used with aqueous humor and cerebrospinal fluid. Cats with inflammatory central nervous system or ocular diseases had significant leakage of serum proteins into aqueous humor and cerebrospinal fluid, necessitating use of cutoff values derived from serum when these fluids were assessed.