Anterior uveitis in a kitten infected with Toxoplasma gondii (Tehran strain)

Abstract

Ocular lesions are a common manifestation of toxoplasmosis in cats. In this survey, 10 healthy Syrianmice were infected through intraperitoneal inoculation of bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii (Tehran strain).Mice were killed 30 days after inoculation and the suspension of their brains was prepared, after confirmationof the infection. Seven kittens were fed with the infected mice brain suspension. The kittens were 2.5–3months old and had body weights of 650–900 g. All kittens shed oocyst 7–8 days after infection, and hadantibody titers as high as 1/320–1/1280 30 days after the challenge. Serum chemistry and complete bloodcount were determined in all of the kittens. Examination of eyes was done with ophthalmoscope twice duringone week. Only one kitten showed unilateral anterior uveitis on day 16 after the infection was diagnosedbased on serology, oocyst shedding and other clinical signs.