Toxoplasmosis in cats at Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines

The study was conducted to detect Toxoplasm gondii in cats by measuring the level of antibodies in the blood using the rapid ImmunoCombR feline T. gondii antibody test kit. Confirmation was done through fecal, blood smear, and histopathological examinations of biopsied mice. Out of the 36 cats that were sampled 12 (33.33%) gave positive results, seven (19.44%) had high positive results, and 17 (47.22%) were negative. Cats that yielded high positive reaction demonstrated tachyzoites in their blood. Bradyzoites were also seen from mouse brain tissue following bioassay of spleen tissue of high positive-reacting cats. The current results indicate that T. gondii is present among cats in Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines and may be a potential risk to other susceptible animals in the area especially humans.