Myelitis due to reactivated spinal toxoplasmosis in a cat

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2010-10, Vol.12 (10), p.818-821
• Main Authors: Lindsay, Scott A., Barrs, Vanessa R., Child, Georgina, Beatty, Julia A., Krockenberger, Mark B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adult animals; Animals; breeds; case studies; cat diseases; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - parasitology; Cats; Cornish Rex (cat breed); Diagnosis, Differential; disease diagnosis; disease treatment; Female; females; Myelitis - etiology; Myelitis - veterinary; necropsy; Spinal Cord Diseases - parasitology; Spinal Cord Diseases - veterinary; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - diagnosis; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - parasitology
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.05.002

The diagnosis, management, and subsequent post-mortem confirmation of a case of suspected reactivated spinal toxoplasmosis in a 10-year-old female neutered Cornish Rex are described. While an ante-mortem diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was considered possible based on the neuroanatomical diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) disease primarily involving spinal cord segment C6–T2 and the progressive elimination of other potential causes, Toxoplasma gondii antibody titres were consistent with previous exposure rather than active infection. A poor response to appropriate therapy did not support a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. A post-mortem morphological diagnosis of marked segmental non-suppurative myelitis and necrosis, and an aetiological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis were made. The clinical and pathological findings are supportive of CNS inflammation due to reactivation of latent tissue T gondii cysts.