Toxoplasmosis: serological study of two clinical cases

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii reproduces sexually in cats, who eliminate oocysts into the environment through feces. They also have a tissue dissemination phase responsible for the extraintestinal symptomatology observed in other species, such as canines. Diagnosis is made through direct agglutination serological methods with 2 mercaptoethanol (ADc2ME): detects immunoglobulin (Ig) G and without 2Me (ADs2ME): detects total Ig and indirect immunofluorescence (IFI). Two cases were presented for consult, to which AD (with and without 2ME) and IFI were performed in order to determine the title of total antibodies IgG, IgM and Ig anti Toxoplasma gondii. An eight-month male Pitbull, convulsive, presented an ADc2ME title of 1/8192 and ADs2ME of 1/32768, IFI-IgG of 1/100 and IFI-IgM of 1/50. A second sample (16 days later) showed identical titles of ADc and s2ME, an IFI-IgG of 1/400 and IFI-IgM of 1/100. A nine-year-old female cat, common in Europe, with declining health, anorexia and coproparasitological with oocysts compatible with Toxoplasma gondii, presented ADc2ME of 1/2048 and ADs2ME of 1/8192, IFI-IgG of 1/3200 and IFI-IgM of 1/50. Samples matched for IFI or the ADc and s2ME in one sample allowed the identification of the stage of infection in these symptomatic animals.