Rapid infectious disease test FASTest® TOXOPLASMA

for catsfor dogsfor antibodies

FASTest® TOXOPLASMA g is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the qualitative detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in whole blood, plasma or serum of the cat and dog. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii. It plays an important epidemiologic role especially in the cat, but also in the dog. Other mammals, humans (zoonosis) and birds can be infected as intermediate hosts with T. gondii oocysts world-wide. Definite hosts (gamogony and oocyst production) are only cats and other felids (especially lynx, ozelot, puma). The infection takes place perorally by ingestion of infectious tissue cysts (formation in the infected intermediate host) in raw meat (e.g. mouse, birds) or by sporulated oocysts (e.g. snails, worms, coprophagous arthropods a. s. o.). Due to infection intensity and uptake of the T. gondii stage, the patent period is only few days (oocysts 21–24 d / tissue cysts 3–5 d). Dogs are only intermediate hosts and do not egest oocysts. Approximately 2 weeks post infection, the antibody (ab) titre increases (seroconversion) with maximum IgG titres between 2–4 weeks (optimal time point of testing). Thereafter, the titre decreases onto an “infestation titre” (< 1:50) and can persist. The prevalence for seropositivity increases with advanced age. In Germany, the prevalences for cats are indicated between 55–60 %. Clinical symptoms are not pathognomonic in dog and cat and depend on age and immune status of the animal.