COMPARISON OF SEROLOGIC ASSAYS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN NONDOMESTIC FELIDS

Abstract

Serum collected from 33 nondomestic felids and from six domestic cats experimentally inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii were evaluated for evidence of toxoplasmosis using a latex agglutination (LA) kit, an indirect hemagglutination (IHA) kit, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for IgM (IgM-ELISA), IgG (IgG-ELISA), and for antigen (AG-ELISA) to define optimal diagnostic procedures. The IgG-ELISA was positive earlier than the LA or IHA when used to assess domestic cat sera. More nondomestic felid sera were positive when evaluated by the IgG ELISA than by the LA or IHA. No nondomestic felid had detectable IgM antibodies. Antigen was detected in 36.4% of the nondomestic felid sera. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 75.8% (IgG ELISA), 60.6% (LA), or 57.6% (IHA) in the nondomestic felid sera. Although not statistically evaluated, the IgG-ELISA appears to be superior to LA or IHA for the detection of T. go ??///-specific IgG.