Antemortem diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in two cats on cyclosporin therapy.
Clinical toxoplasmosis was diagnosed antemortem in two cats being treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporin. The diagnosis was made by detecting tachyzoites on cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one case and pleural effusion from the other. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in both cases, only one cat survived. Reactivation of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection secondary to cyclosporin-induced immunosuppression was considered likely in both cases. The presence of respiratory signs in cats treated with cyclosporin should alert clinicians to the possibility of clinical toxoplasmosis. Consideration should be given to determining the serostatus of cats to T gondii prior to use of drugs which are potent inhibitors of cell mediated immunity, such as cyclosporin. Two cases of feline toxoplasmosis are presented.
University Veterinary Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006.
V R
VR
Barrs
P
P
Martin
J A
JA
Beatty
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine