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Toxoplasma gondii multifocal central nervous system infiltration in an apparently immunocompetent cat in Italy

Omar V Del Vecchio1, Chiara Grande1

  • 1Centro Veterinario Caleidos, Via Lanfranco 4, 17011 Albisola Superiore, SV, Italy.

Veterinary Parasitology, Regional Studies and Reports
|September 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats can cause severe central nervous system inflammation. Early diagnosis is challenging, even with serological testing, and definitive diagnosis may require postmortem examination.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Progressive ambulatory deficits in a young cat suggested multifocal neurological disease.
  • Initial diagnostics included MRI and serological testing for Toxoplasma gondii.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diagnostic challenges of Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis in a young cat.
  • To evaluate the utility of serology, MRI, and PCR in diagnosing CNS toxoplasmosis.

Main Methods:

  • Spinal cord and brain MRI were performed.
  • Serological testing (indirect immunofluorescence assay) for Toxoplasma gondii was conducted.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid PCR and postmortem histology with immunohistochemistry were utilized.

Main Results:

  • MRI revealed multiple inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord.
  • Serology showed increasing IgG titers, suggesting chronic infection.
  • Postmortem examination confirmed protozoal infiltration consistent with Toxoplasma gondii.

Conclusions:

  • Toxoplasma gondii should be considered in young cats with multifocal CNS inflammatory lesions, even with low seroconversion.
  • Antemortem diagnosis can be difficult without invasive procedures like biopsy.
  • Further investigation is needed to improve early diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis.

Keywords:
CatCentral nervous system infectionFeline generalized toxoplasmosisMRIToxoplasma gondii meningoencephalomyelitis

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