Comprehensive diagnostic approaches to feline toxoplasmosis: Bridging traditional methods and emerging technologies

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed intracellular parasite, with felids serving as its definitive hosts and playing a central role in environmental contamination through oocyst shedding. Accurate and timely diagnosis in cats is critical for interrupting transmission cycles and mitigating public health risks. This review provides an integrated overview of current and emerging diagnostic strategies for feline toxoplasmosis, encompassing serological assays, molecular methods, and nanomaterial-enhanced technologies. Comparative analysis highlights the diagnostic performance, advantages, and limitations of each method across diverse settings. The incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to enhance diagnostic precision, enabling stage-specific detection and personalized intervention strategies. Emphasis is placed on the need for standardized diagnostic protocols and the identification of antigens with high expression in schizogony, bradyzoite, and sporulated oocyst stages – key developmental phases relevant to early detection. This review provides valuable insights into the technical bottlenecks that need to be addressed and future development directions for diagnostic methods of feline toxoplasmosis, which holds significant importance for toxoplasmosis prevention and control.