Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Two littermate kittens died from acute toxoplasmosis
By Crouch, E E V et al.·Published in Parasitology international·2019·Department of Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Littermate cats rescued from a shelter succumbed to acute, primary toxoplasmosis associated with TOXO DB genotype #4, generally circulating in wildlife.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two 8-week-old kittens from a shelter suddenly became very ill and died from a severe infection called toxoplasmosis, which they likely contracted after birth. They had been in a foster home for about a month before being transferred to a shelter, where they showed no signs of illness initially. Unfortunately, a postmortem examination revealed that the kittens had overwhelming toxoplasmosis, and tests showed they had been exposed to the parasite. This case highlights the risks of feeding raw meat to cats and the importance of safely handling cat feces, especially in veterinary settings.
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Abstract
Cats are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in the environment. Although exposure is common (approximately 30% of cats in the USA), clinical toxoplasmosis is relatively rare. Here, we report overwhelming disseminated toxoplasmosis in two litter mate 8-week-old kittens, thought to have acquired toxoplasmosis postnatally. Five domestic shorthair kittens, approximately 2-3 weeks of age, and the queen were found in upstate New York by a rescue group in spring of 2018. The kittens and queen were placed in a foster home for approximately 4-5 weeks and then transferred to a shelter. Two kittens died unexpectedly following a short illness. Postmortem examination of the two deceased kittens revealed overwhelming toxoplasmosis and the presence of entero-epithelial stages in small intestine, suggestive of recent ingestion of infected tissues. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in the deceased kittens and the queen but not in the three asymptomatic littermate kittens. No obvious cause of immunosuppression was demonstrated. Genetic typing of T. gondii from DNA extracted from liver and lungs of both kittens revealed Toxo DB #4 genotype, commonly found in wildlife. Owners and veterinarians should be aware of dangers of feeding raw meat to cats and contact with infected cat feces. Procedures to safely handle T. gondii infected feces in hospital setting are outlined.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31220634/