Diagnosis of induced toxoplasmosis in neonatal cats.

Sixteen pregnant queens were inoculated orally with tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii, and fetal membranes and offspring were examined for T gondii infection by bioassay in mice. Queens appeared clinically normal, although all shed T gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of 7 of 33 fetuses or kittens from 5 litters (at 13, 23, 26, 27, and 29 postinoculation days) from 8 queens euthanatized between 10 and 31 postinoculation days. Infection with T gondii was found in kittens from all 8 litters from the 8 queens that were allowed to undergo parturition and nurse their kittens. A total of 43 kittens were born to these 8 queens. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of 26 of 40 kittens bioassayed; in 3 kittens, tissues were not available for bioassay. Toxoplasmosis was severe in full-term kittens born to 5 queens; all 25 kittens from these litters died or were ill by 24 days of age. Anorexia, lethargy, hypothermia, and sudden death were the most common manifestations. Cytologic examination of peritoneal fluid aspirate samples and determination of hepatic-associated enzyme concentrations in affected kittens, as well as measurement of anti-T gondii antibodies in serum of kittens and queens, were helpful in the diagnosis of neonatal toxoplasmosis. Transplacental transfer of anti-T gondii antibodies was not observed in cats. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were found in fecal samples of 3 kittens from different litters at 16, 24, and 63 days of age.