title: Mini-FLOTAC for counting Toxoplasma gondii oocysts from cat feces--comparison with cell counting plates.
abstract: Oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii represent one of the most common environmental contaminants causing the zoonotic infection toxoplasmosis. The aim of the present study was to compare the Mini-FLOTAC device with traditional cell counting plates (Kova Slide) for the detection of T. gondii oocysts from feline feces. Two types of experiments were performed: (i) purified oocysts were counted in different dilutions and (ii) specific pathogen free T. gondii-negative cat feces was inoculated with numbers of purified oocysts and counting was performed directly from feces. Our analysis showed a thousand times higher sensitivity of Mini-FLOTAC (5 × 10(2) oocysts) compared to Kova Slide (5 × 10(5) oocysts). Also, when compared by McNemar's test, counting of the purified oocysts showed a higher sensitivity of Mini-FLOTAC compared to Kova Slide, for a dilution of 10(3) oocysts/ml (chi(2) = 6.1; P < 0.05). A better sensitivity was also found with Mini-FLOTAC in dilutions of 10(5) and 10(4) oocysts/ml, when counted from feces (chi(2) = 4.2 and 8.1, respectively, P < 0.05). Our results show that Mini-FLOTAC is more sensitive than traditional methods of T. gondii oocysts detection and quantification is more accurate. Furthermore, Mini-FLOTAC simplicity and cost effectiveness allow it to be used with light microscopes in any laboratory or field conditions. We therefore recommend its use for regular screening. Further studies are needed to validate Mini-FLOTAC for the detection of oocysts in soil and water samples in field conditions.
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratoire de santé animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France; National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotića 4, P.O. Box 102, Belgrade 11129, Serbia. Electronic address: Vitomir.djokic@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Vitomir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djokic
authors.affiliation: Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Roux
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratoire de santé animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ducry
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Maurelli
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratoire de santé animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotića 4, P.O. Box 102, Belgrade 11129, Serbia.
authors.forename: Olgica
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Djurkovic Djakovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cringoli
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratoire de santé animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boireau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D033661:Oocysts / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Detection; Kova slide; Mini-FLOTAC; Oocysts; Toxoplasma gondii