Clinical significance of Toxoplasma gondii in immunocompetent cats

Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite, with felines as its definitive host and all warm-blooded mammals and birds as intermediate hosts. It is known that most infected hosts are asymptotic, especially cats are supposed to be able to develop a long-term immunity after first time infection. Clinical toxoplasmosis is rare and occurs in patients that are usually immunosuppressed, this fact can make one be less alert about the significance of how T. gondii can potentially affect cats clinically in general, especially for those that are immunocompetent. Clinical toxoplasmosis is a serious disease that can be fatal to cats that do not receive adequate treatment in time as it can progress aggressively. The symptoms vary and are usually nonspecific; a few cases will be summarized in this paper. Most tests, when conducted alone, do not give conclusive information to make a definitive diagnosis. As toxoplasmosis is usually not included in the list of differential diagnosis when it comes to acute cases, because it occurs so rarely, so the running of diagnostic tests is often delayed. These factors pose a great challenge for clinicians to make an early and correct diagnosis which is the key for treatment.