Toxoplasmosis

Description

Cats and other felines are definitive hosts of the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii, with sexual stages in the gut resulting in oocysts shed in faeces. The cat when first infected excretes large numbers of oocysts in the faeces for about 10 days and thereafter may only excrete small numbers on an intermittent basis. Clinical disease is not common in cats.

Pregnant ewes and does are infected by ingestion of sporulated oocysts from cat faeces or by ingestion of T. gondii cysts in infected intermediate host tissues (e.g. infected placenta). Infection is more common in sheep kept under intensive systems of management where cats are present.

While infection appears to be common in mammals and birds relatively few individuals develop overt disease, with the exception of marsupials that seem to be much more sensitive.

Systemic toxoplasmosis occurs most often in young animals, especially immunologically immature neonates and in immunocompromised hosts.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, serology and histopathology. A histopathologic diagnosis is based on the detection of tissue cysts with associated necrosis and inflammation.

Tests available

Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹
Histopathology examination	Fixed tissue	Monday –Friday	Up to 5 days
Necropsy examination	Aborted foetus	Monday – Saturday²	Same day
Toxoplasma latex test	Clotted blood (red top tube)	Monday – Friday	Up to 5 days
Toxoplasma agglutination test	Clotted blood (red top tube)	On request	2 days

¹Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.
² Prior approval of delivery and testing on Saturday is required. Please contact Customer Service on 1800 675 623 to seek approval.

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Aborted foetus
Whole foetus and foetal membranes. Submit chilled in an insulated container.
Blood (without anti-coagulant)
10 ml of blood (including at least 2ml of serum) from aborting animals and 5-10 in-contact animals. Submit chilled. Collected into a plain red top tube. Clearly document on the specimen submission form of each animal samples and clearly identify which animal aborted.
Fixed tissue
For cats collect brain, lung, heart, skeletal muscle, liver, lymphoid tissues and adrenal gland. Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1ratio of formalin: tissue. For ewes/does submit a range of fixed tissues as recommended for sheep abortions, but particularly placental cotyledons and foetal brain. Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

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CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568