Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain
Case summary Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed apicomplexan protozoan infecting all warm-blooded animals. Cats are the definitive host, susceptible to clinical disease. In Spain, studies have shown the widespread presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in cats but there are no published data...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169241298746 |
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| author | Llibertat Real Alberto Barneto Nekane Kortabarria Gorka Aduriz |
| author_facet | Llibertat Real Alberto Barneto Nekane Kortabarria Gorka Aduriz |
| author_sort | Llibertat Real |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Case summary Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed apicomplexan protozoan infecting all warm-blooded animals. Cats are the definitive host, susceptible to clinical disease. In Spain, studies have shown the widespread presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in cats but there are no published data on clinical toxoplasmosis in cats from Spain. We describe a case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a 7-year-old outdoor domestic shorthair cat. The cat, an active hunter, was presented with a 1-week history of malaise and acute deterioration over 24 h. Fever, tachypnoea and abdominal discomfort were detected on physical examination. No evidence of immunosuppressive disease or previous treatment could be found. A moderate increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was found on serum biochemistry. Radiography revealed hepatomegaly and a small patchy pulmonary alveolar pattern in the caudal lung lobes. In 48 h, the AST and ALT levels were severely increased and the cat’s respiratory signs worsened. Parenteral clindamycin administration (25 mg/kg IV q12h) and supportive treatment could not prevent progression to death. Cytology from the liver and lungs revealed organisms morphologically consistent with T gondii . Indirect immunofluorescence antibody test Toxoplasma titres were 1:100 IgM and 1:100 IgG. PCR performed on scraped material from glass cytology slides was positive for T gondii in both lung and liver aspirates. Relevant and novel information To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a cat described in Spain, confirmed by PCR. Fine-needle aspirates from the liver could assist in the diagnosis of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis when liver enzymes are increased. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6896bde877d4e668bf69438d3499e4e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-1169 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6896bde877d4e668bf69438d3499e4e2025-01-03T16:03:27ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports2055-11692025-01-011110.1177/20551169241298746Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, SpainLlibertat Real0Alberto Barneto1Nekane Kortabarria2Gorka Aduriz3Clinica Veterinaria Ayavet, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, SpainClinica Veterinaria Ayavet, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, SpainNEIKER-BRTA (Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario – Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Bizkaia, SpainNEIKER-BRTA (Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario – Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Derio, Bizkaia, SpainCase summary Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed apicomplexan protozoan infecting all warm-blooded animals. Cats are the definitive host, susceptible to clinical disease. In Spain, studies have shown the widespread presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in cats but there are no published data on clinical toxoplasmosis in cats from Spain. We describe a case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a 7-year-old outdoor domestic shorthair cat. The cat, an active hunter, was presented with a 1-week history of malaise and acute deterioration over 24 h. Fever, tachypnoea and abdominal discomfort were detected on physical examination. No evidence of immunosuppressive disease or previous treatment could be found. A moderate increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was found on serum biochemistry. Radiography revealed hepatomegaly and a small patchy pulmonary alveolar pattern in the caudal lung lobes. In 48 h, the AST and ALT levels were severely increased and the cat’s respiratory signs worsened. Parenteral clindamycin administration (25 mg/kg IV q12h) and supportive treatment could not prevent progression to death. Cytology from the liver and lungs revealed organisms morphologically consistent with T gondii . Indirect immunofluorescence antibody test Toxoplasma titres were 1:100 IgM and 1:100 IgG. PCR performed on scraped material from glass cytology slides was positive for T gondii in both lung and liver aspirates. Relevant and novel information To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a cat described in Spain, confirmed by PCR. Fine-needle aspirates from the liver could assist in the diagnosis of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis when liver enzymes are increased.https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169241298746 |
| spellingShingle | Llibertat Real Alberto Barneto Nekane Kortabarria Gorka Aduriz Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports |
| title | Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain |
| title_full | Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain |
| title_short | Fatal disseminated infection in a cat from Madrid, Spain |
| title_sort | fatal disseminated infection in a cat from madrid spain |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20551169241298746 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT llibertatreal fataldisseminatedinfectioninacatfrommadridspain AT albertobarneto fataldisseminatedinfectioninacatfrommadridspain AT nekanekortabarria fataldisseminatedinfectioninacatfrommadridspain AT gorkaaduriz fataldisseminatedinfectioninacatfrommadridspain |