Feline toxoplasmosis and coccidiosis: a survey of domiciled and stray cats
Dubey, J.P.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 162(10): 873-877
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 4633752 Document Number: 68099
Serum samples from 510 domiciled cats from Kansas City and 157 stray cats from Iowa and Missouri were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by means of the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Titres of 1:2 or greater were found in 8.6% of domiciled kittens 4.5-10 weeks old, 16.2% of domiciled kittens 11-26 weeks old, 37.5% of adult domiciled cats, and 58% of adult stray cats. Passively transferred antibody had disappeared from the blood of most kittens by 3 months of age. Tissues of young kittens with titres of 1:64 or greater were injected into mice; T. gondii was thus isolated from 9 of 11 kittens. Oocysts of Isospora felis were found in 17.2%, I. rivolta in 9.4%, I. cati in one and T. gondii in none of the domiciled cats; faeces of stray cats were not examined.