Myelitis due to reactivated spinal toxoplasmosis in a cat.
The diagnosis, management, and subsequent post-mortem confirmation of a case of suspected reactivated spinal toxoplasmosis in a 10-year-old female neutered Cornish Rex are described. While an ante-mortem diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was considered possible based on the neuroanatomical diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) disease primarily involving spinal cord segment C6-T2 and the progressive elimination of other potential causes, Toxoplasma gondii antibody titres were consistent with previous exposure rather than active infection. A poor response to appropriate therapy did not support a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. A post-mortem morphological diagnosis of marked segmental non-suppurative myelitis and necrosis, and an aetiological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis were made. The clinical and pathological findings are supportive of CNS inflammation due to reactivation of latent tissue T gondii cysts.
Lindsay
Scott A
SA
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. scott.lindsay@sydney.edu.au
Barrs
Vanessa R
VR
Child
Georgina
G
Beatty
Julia A
JA
Krockenberger
Mark B
MB
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D009187:Myelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology