Antemortem diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in two cats on cyclosporin therapy

Abstract

Clinical toxoplasmosis was diagnosed antemortem in two cats being treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporin. The diagnosis was made by detecting tachyzoites on cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one case and pleural effusion from the other. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in both cases, only one cat survived. Reactivation of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection secondary to cyclosporin-induced immunosuppression was considered likely in both cases. The presence of respiratory signs in cats treated with cyclosporin should alert clinicians to the possibility of clinical toxoplasmosis. Consideration should be given to determining the serostatus of cats to T gondii prior to use of drugs which are potent inhibitors of cell mediated immunity, such as cyclosporin. Two cases of feline toxoplasmosis are presented.

Toxoplasma gondii: epidemiology, feline clinical aspects, and prevention

“…Most infected cats will shed oocysts only at a single point in their lifetime, generally for a period of one to two weeks, and it has been estimated that only $1% of cats at any given time are actively shedding ( Table 2) [1]; this estimate was supported through the observation of T. gondii-like oocysts in a population of Californian cats [19], although tests to confirm the oocyst identity were not reported. The probability of finding oocysts in the feces of a cat is low; a survey of cats in Germany and other European countries recently reported detection of T. gondii oocysts (Figure 2) in 26 of 24,106 (0.11%) fecal samples [1].…”

Fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent cat

“…Current literature suggests that an immunocompromised state, such as in cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and/or feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), or those subject to potent inhibitors of cell-mediated immunity such as cyclosporin, is the main factor predisposing to the development of disseminated disease (Barrs, Martin & Beatty 2006;Davidson et al 1993;Foster et al 1998;Heidel et al 1990;Lappin et al 1992;Last et al 2004;Nordquist & Aronson 2008;Park et al 2007;Patton et al 1991;Toomey et al 1995). Fatal toxoplasmosis can develop during acute intracellular replication and systemic dissemination of tachyzoites.…”

Detección de Anticuerpos Contra Toxoplasma gondii en un Hurón Doméstico (Mustela putorius furo) en Lima, Perú

“…Si bien no existe mucha información sobre las alteraciones bioquímico séricas asociadas a toxoplasmosis en hurones, este mismo hallazgo en otros carnívoros domésticos es sugerente de toxoplasmosis o neosporosis muscular, aunque su presentación es poco frecuente (Lindsay et al, 1995;Barrs et al, 2006).…”