Toxoplasma and Bartonella in Pennsylvania Cats

Dubey JP, Bhatia CR, Lappin MR, et al. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. antibodies in cats from Pennsylvania. J Parasitol 2009;95:578-580.

Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens that infect cats. Good prevalence studies of these organisms in cats are lacking. The researchers examined blood samples from 210 cats at a humane shelter in Bensalem, Pennsylvania from January to July 2008 for antibodies to these pathogens. Nearly 20% of the cats tested positive for T. gondii, which is lower than previous studies in other geographic areas both in the United States and elsewhere in the world. That may be due to the fact that nearly a quarter of the cats tested were kittens. Seroprevalence increased with the age of the cat. Over 25% of cats tested were seropositive for Bartonella spp. Seventeen cats had antibodies to both organisms, but there was no correlation between T. gondii and Bartonella spp. seropositivity. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
DeFeo ML, Dubey JP, Mather TN, et al. Epidemiologic investigation of seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in cats and rodents. Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1714-1717.
>> PubMed Abstract

Lappin MR, Breitschwerdt EB, Brewer M, et al. Prevalence of Bartonella species antibodies and Bartonella species DNA in the blood of cats with and without fever. J Feline Med Surg 2009;11:141-148.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Dubey JP, Bhatia CR, Lappin MR, et al. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. antibodies in cats from Pennsylvania. J Parasitol 2009;95:578-580.

Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens that infect cats. Good prevalence studies of these organisms in cats are lacking. The researchers examined blood samples from 210 cats at a humane shelter in Bensalem, Pennsylvania from January to July 2008 for antibodies to these pathogens. Nearly 20% of the cats tested positive for T. gondii, which is lower than previous studies in other geographic areas both in the United States and elsewhere in the world. That may be due to the fact that nearly a quarter of the cats tested were kittens. Seroprevalence increased with the age of the cat. Over 25% of cats tested were seropositive for Bartonella spp. Seventeen cats had antibodies to both organisms, but there was no correlation between T. gondii and Bartonella spp. seropositivity. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
DeFeo ML, Dubey JP, Mather TN, et al. Epidemiologic investigation of seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in cats and rodents. Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1714-1717.
>> PubMed Abstract

Lappin MR, Breitschwerdt EB, Brewer M, et al. Prevalence of Bartonella species antibodies and Bartonella species DNA in the blood of cats with and without fever. J Feline Med Surg 2009;11:141-148.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

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Cats and Toxoplasmosis

Malmasi, A., B. Mosallanejad, et al. (2009). "Prevention of shedding and re-shedding of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in experimentally infected cats treated with oral clindamycin: a preliminary study." Zoonoses Public Health 56(2): 102-4.

Researchers from the University of Tehran investigated the effect of oral clindamycin on shedding of Toxoplasma organisms in infected cats. Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoal parasite that infects many mammalian species, including cats and humans. Infected cats shed millions of oocysts, which can then infect contact animals, including humans, with potentially serious consequences. While numbers of animals evaluated in this study were small (twelve infected cats, six treated, and six untreated), and clindamycin administration was given for 24 days beginning 3 days prior to and continuing through 3 weeks post-infection (this timing would not likely occur in natural infections), shedding did not occur in the treated cats. In contrast, treated cats shed for over one week. Following immunosuppression through administration of dexamethasone 45 days post-infection, the previously-treated cats again demonstrated no shedding of the organism in contrast to non-treated cats. Giving clindamycin prophylactically to cats made them oocyst-free and as long as they were receiving the medication, and they did not shed oocysts even under severe immunosuppression. This study is a model for future studies with larger groups. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Lloyd, S. and J. Smith (2001). "Activity of toltrazuril and diclazuril against Isospora species in kittens and puppies." Vet Rec 148(16): 509-11.

Vollaire, M., S. Radecki, et al. (2005). "Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in clinically ill cats in the United States." Am J Vet Res 66(5): 874-877.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Malmasi, A., B. Mosallanejad, et al. (2009). "Prevention of shedding and re-shedding of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in experimentally infected cats treated with oral clindamycin: a preliminary study." Zoonoses Public Health 56(2): 102-4.

Researchers from the University of Tehran investigated the effect of oral clindamycin on shedding of Toxoplasma organisms in infected cats. Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoal parasite that infects many mammalian species, including cats and humans. Infected cats shed millions of oocysts, which can then infect contact animals, including humans, with potentially serious consequences. While numbers of animals evaluated in this study were small (twelve infected cats, six treated, and six untreated), and clindamycin administration was given for 24 days beginning 3 days prior to and continuing through 3 weeks post-infection (this timing would not likely occur in natural infections), shedding did not occur in the treated cats. In contrast, treated cats shed for over one week. Following immunosuppression through administration of dexamethasone 45 days post-infection, the previously-treated cats again demonstrated no shedding of the organism in contrast to non-treated cats. Giving clindamycin prophylactically to cats made them oocyst-free and as long as they were receiving the medication, and they did not shed oocysts even under severe immunosuppression. This study is a model for future studies with larger groups. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Lloyd, S. and J. Smith (2001). "Activity of toltrazuril and diclazuril against Isospora species in kittens and puppies." Vet Rec 148(16): 509-11.

Vollaire, M., S. Radecki, et al. (2005). "Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in clinically ill cats in the United States." Am J Vet Res 66(5): 874-877.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More