title: Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA by qPCR in the feces of a cat that recently ingested infected prey does not necessarily imply oocyst shedding.
abstract: Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in cat feces is considered indicative of the presence of T. gondii oocysts. This study aims to demonstrate that the high sensitivity of qPCR can lead to T. gondii DNA detection in cat feces in the absence of oocysts. A cat immune to toxoplasmosis was fed with a mouse experimentally infected with T. gondii. Detection of DNA of this parasite was performed by qPCR on feces passed: (i) on the day the cat ingested the infected prey; (ii) during the three previous days; and (iii) during the three following days. The kinetics of qPCR results are clearly not linked to oocyst shedding and this result demonstrates that qPCR can detect T. gondii DNA related to bradyzoites from an infected prey, in the absence of oocysts. Caution is thus recommended when interpreting T. gondii qPCR results for samples of cat feces.
authors.affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap-Santé, EA3800-PROTAL, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51095 Reims Cedex, France - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CERFE, 5 rue de la Héronnière, 08240 Boult-aux-Bois, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Lazarine
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Poulle
authors.affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap-Santé, EA3800-PROTAL, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51095 Reims Cedex, France - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, CERFE, 5 rue de la Héronnière, 08240 Boult-aux-Bois, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Amélie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Forin-Wiart
authors.affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap-Santé, EA3800-PROTAL, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51095 Reims Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Émilie
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Josse-Dupuis
authors.affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap-Santé, EA3800-PROTAL, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51095 Reims Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Villena
authors.affiliation: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap-Santé, EA3800-PROTAL, UFR de Médecine, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51095 Reims Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aubert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D016266:Food Parasitology; D051379:Mice / Q000469:parasitology; D033661:Oocysts; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan