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Toxoplasmosis is usually diagnosed based on a cat’s history, signs of illness, and laboratory test results. Measurement of two types of antibodies to T. gondii in the blood, IgG and IgM, can help diagnose toxoplasmosis.
Cats with acute toxoplasmosis should be monitored for body-cavity effusions, pneumonia, hepatic failure, pancreatitis, encephalomyelitis and myocarditis. Additional supportive therapy may be required, e.g., anticonvulsants in seizuring patients, diuretics, ACE inhibitors for congestive heart failure, analgesia for pancreatitis.
1 sty 2013 · Definitive diagnosis of clinical toxoplasmosis is by detection of tachyzoites by cytology, immunohistochemistry, PCR, or cell culture. T. gondii antibody positive cats no longer shed oocysts and neither are, nor will become, a risk for humans.
Laboratory tests are used to diagnose toxoplasmosis. In many cases, treatment is not necessary in infected cats. If warranted, your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics to treat toxoplasmosis. Anticonvulsant medications may be used to control seizures.
For dogs and cats, clindamycin is the treatment of choice, administered PO every 12 hours for 3–4 weeks at 10–12.5 mg/kg in dogs and 25–50 mg/kg in cats. Toltrazuril, ponazuril, and diclazuril may be administered to treat acute toxoplasmosis, as well as to reduce the shedding of oocysts by cats.
Preventing toxoplasmosis in dogs and cats involves measures intended to reduce the incidence of feline infections and subsequent shedding of oocysts into the environment. Kittens raised outdoors usually become infected shortly after they are weaned and begin to hunt.
Blood tests will determine whether a cat has been exposed to the organism. These tests do not necessarily mean that Toxoplasma is the cause of any disease since most exposed cats do not develop disease; however, high levels of certain antibodies can suggest current infection.
