Cytologic identification of Toxoplasma gondii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of experimentally infected cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether it was possible to retrieve organisms, by means of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), from cats inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
27 cats. Sixteen of the 27 were experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.


METHODS
All cats were inoculated with T gondii tachyzoites. Cats were grouped on the basis of feline immunodeficiency virus status and route (IV or intra-arterial) and number of tachyzoites administered. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed by means of a standard technique. Lavage fluid was evaluated cytologically for tachyzoites.


RESULTS
Clinical signs of toxoplasmosis varied widely among individual cats, but were generally most pronounced in group-1 and -2 cats (n = 5 each) and less pronounced in group-3 (n = 5) cats. Group-4 and -5 cats (n = 6 each) did not have clinical signs of toxoplasmosis. In 14 of the 15 cats in groups 1, 2, and 3, tachyzoites were detected in BAL fluid collected 7 days after inoculation. Tachyzoites were detected 14 days after inoculation in the single cat without tachyzoites 7 days after inoculation. A necropsy was performed on 9 of these cats, and tachyzoites were identified histologically in 4 of the 9. Tachyzoites were not detected in BAL fluid collected 3 days (n = 6) or 7 days (n = 6) after inoculation from the 12 cats in groups 4 and 5. Tachyzoites were not identified histologically in any of these 12 cats.


CONCLUSIONS
BAL may be useful in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, particularly in cats with signs of pulmonary involvement.
Hawkins
E C
EC
Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
Davidson
M G
MG
Meuten
D J
DJ
Rottman
J B
JB
Kennedy-Stoskopf
S
S
Levy
J K
JK
Ritchey
J W
JW
Cullins
L D
LD
Tompkins
M B
MB
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000469:parasitology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*