Observations on Toxoplasmosis in Dogs

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Only young puppies given relatively large inocula of Toxoplasma gondii succombed to the infection. Parasites were found widely distributed only in puppies which succumbed or in those which were sacrificed at 1 or 2 weeks. Brain, lung, liver, spleen, heart, kidney and urine were positive. Parasites were rarely demonstrable in animals sacrificed 3 months or longer after infection. Parasitemia was found in the 4 dogs which died, and in 3 additional puppies, none older than 6.5 weeks. In symptomless infections parasitemia subsided after 10 to 14 days. Antibody response to parenteral inoculation was rapid. Dye test titers of 1:16 or 1:64 were found at 1 week, 1:1024 or higher at 2 weeks. Persistence of high antibody levels varied considerably. Two of 4 dogs fed infected tissues showed transient antibody titers of 1:64 to 1:256. Feces from the dogs were not found infective, nor was urine except in the case of the young animals that died or were sacrificed at 1 or 2 weeks. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible role of the dog in the epidemiology of human toxoplasmosis.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: