Effect of primary phase feline immunodeficiency virus infection on cats with chronic toxoplasmosis

Abstract The effect of primary phase feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection on clinical signs, hematological values, Toxoplasma gondii oocyst shedding, T. gondii -specific serology, T. gondii -specific cell-mediated immune responses, non-specific cell-mediated immune responses, and lymphocyte subpopulations from cats with experimentally induced chronic toxoplasmosis was studied. No significant clinical or hematologic abnormalities were noted following inoculation with FIV. T. gondii -specific IgM was significantly increased, concanavalin A, T. gondii tachyzoite antigen and T. gondii secretory antigen induction of lymphocyte transformation were significantly suppressed, and CD4+ cell numbers were significantly decreased following inoculation with FIV. The changes were attributed to FIV effects on the immune system and resultant activated toxoplasmosis.