Toxoplasma treatment cats

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Iain Richards — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:24:47 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]Afraid it is as far as toxoplasmosis is concerned.[/quote]

Interesting - so what happens? Do the bradyzoite cysts get activated, or is the gut not cleared of infection as I'd previously thought.

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:39:39 GMT

[quote user="Iain Richards"]

I'm not aware that atopica is that immunosuppressive anyway.

[/quote]

Afraid it is as far as toxoplasmosis is concerned.

Rosie- thanks for the explanation behind the reasoning, also seems unusual to me, not something I have ever thought of doing!

Good luck with the case.

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:59:38 GMT

[quote user="Rosie Marshall"]Great, that’s kind of the way I was thinking about it. Was worried I was missing a trick somewhere given the initial management of this wasn’t what I would have done so wanted to pick a few brains! Thanks for the input [/quote]

Rosie Marshall A first time poster! A very warm welcome to you. I see you've spotted the 'thank you' button, which is great.

A couple of other things about the site you might like to make use of:

1. Add a bit more detail to your professional profile. In particular, specify particular areas of interest, then ...

2. Press the 'share your location' on this page https://www.vetsurgeon.org/user/connect.aspx#, which puts you on the VS Connect map using the address you registered your vetsurgeon account on (supposed to be a practice address), or if you registered a home address and don't want to share, then you can change it to something non-specific, like a local town.

The combination of 1&2 shows you (ie connects you with) other members in your area who have shared clinical or leisure interests or goals.

Reason I mention it is that I looked at it the other day for the first time in a while and saw there are a few cyclists on the map now, and with a bit more of a push, we might be able to organise a VS cycling trip.

Plus I have just added photography as a social interest (having just bought myself a proper new camera and realised it can be quite a social thing) - any others out there?

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Rosie Marshall — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:48:17 GMT

Great, that’s kind of the way I was thinking about it. Was worried I was missing a trick somewhere given the initial management of this wasn’t what I would have done so wanted to pick a few brains! Thanks for the input

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Iain Richards — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:28:40 GMT

Late int eh day so may need to check this. Cats develop an immunity with time and clear the gut of infection, but some of the tachyzoites can migrate into muscle and become bradyzoites, get walled of and stay there. Immunosuppression could release the bradyzoites and the cat will start shedding again (eg FIV). But using the serology and attempting to 'clear' the infection will not affect this (not least as the cat isn't infected!).

I'm not aware that atopica is that immunosuppressive anyway.

Re zoonosis, any shed oocysts must sporulate (5 days). Pink lamb is a greater human risk.

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Rosie Marshall — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:19:38 GMT

so having chased the original vet more, there was concern that the cat may end up on atopica re mouth, so that was the logic for testing. I have to say it wouldn‘t have been on my radar to think about.

Presume the advice would still be the same if you have to start immunosuppressants? Risk/benefit judgement and care re zoonosis?

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Kate Richardson — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:01:42 GMT

Equally unsure why toxoplasma would be included in a screen for gingivitis/stomatitis.

Positive toxo titres only indicate exposure and with compatible clinical signs would raise suspicion but they are not a definitive diagnosis of disease.

Tough for you as will have to approach carefully or risk owners questionning unnecessary treatment so tread carefully.

However I would advise monitoring and owner awareness of the clinical signs of toxoplasmosis and especially if the cat ever needs immunosuppressive treatment as if it does have tissue cysts this might trigger clinical toxoplasmosis

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Iain Richards — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:50:33 GMT

I've been thinking about this. Cats are the definitive host for toxo (ie sexual repro takes place in the cat's gut) as such antibodies will be common. They'll be very high in young animals and remain so for a long time - years (Long-Term Antibody Responses of Cats Fed Toxoplasma gondii Tissue Cysts J. P. Dubey, M. R. Lappin and P. Thulliez The Journal of Parasitology Vol. 81, No. 6 (Dec., 1995), pp. 887-893)

Time to stop a treatment that should never have started! I realise you've inherited the case, but I can't resist asking why one would expect an antibody titre to drop with treatment, the whole point of immunity is memory.

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Iain Richards — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:13:31 GMT

Long lasting Antibodies

But why treat?

RE: Toxoplasma treatment cats

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 18:55:15 GMT

[quote user="Rosie Marshall"]The cat has remained well (apart from needing dental work) throughout this. I wasn't really sure if you'd expect it to take a long time for the toxo titres to drop? And if so is no further treatment, given the cat is asymptomatic, appropriate?[/quote]

I don't think I would have given any treatment to a cat with a high toxoplasma titre showing no clinical signs of toxoplasmosis. My understanding is that exposure is very common but clinical disease is very very rare.