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

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
HIST_HE1	Histopathology – Preparation & Examination	Fixed Tissues- General Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases. Fresh Tissues Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue	All species	Up to 10D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday - Friday
PM_CAT	Post Mortem Cat	Please Note: Post mortems for companion animals and equines are only performed with prior approval by veterinary pathology services, and additional fees may be relevant for complex cases. For large animals, please contact the laboratory to discuss logistics of carcase receival and delivery. Whole Animal Animals must be recently euthanised or freshly dead. Submit chilled in an insulated container. Freezing animals for post mortem is not recommended, as it interferes with diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture and histology). Animals may be frozen if the interval between euthanasia and post mortem will be greater than 24 hours, however further diagnostic testing will be limited.	Companion Animal- Cat	Necropsy reports are issued up to 14D after completion of necropsy.	POA	1 cat Final selection of the appropriate post mortem type is at the discretion of the pathologist performing the necropsy. Post mortem charges do not include additional diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture, or histopathology). Animals for post mortem examination must be packaged and labelled appropriately, and accompanied by a completed submission form. Contact the laboratory to ensure the correct samples are collected, and further testing is performed as requested. Please contact Customer Service to discuss a diagnostic plan. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
PM_FGOAT	Post Mortem Large Animal- Goat Foetus	Whole Animal Animals must be recently euthanised or freshly dead. Submit chilled in an insulated container. Freezing animals for post mortem is not recommended, as it interferes with diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture and histology). Animals may be frozen if the interval between euthanasia and post mortem will be greater than 24 hours, however further diagnostic testing will be limited.	Caprine	Necropsy reports are issued up to 14D after completion of necropsy.	$76.95	1 goat foetus Final selection of the appropriate post mortem type is at the discretion of the pathologist performing the necropsy. Post mortem charges do not include additional diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture, or histopathology). Animals for post mortem examination must be packaged and labelled appropriately, and accompanied by a completed submission form. Contact the laboratory to ensure the correct samples are collected, and further testing is performed as requested. Please contact Customer Service to discuss a diagnostic plan. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
PM_FSHEEP	Post Mortem Large Animal- Sheep Foetus	Whole Animal Animals must be recently euthanised or freshly dead. Submit chilled in an insulated container. Freezing animals for post mortem is not recommended, as it interferes with diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture and histology). Animals may be frozen if the interval between euthanasia and post mortem will be greater than 24 hours, however further diagnostic testing will be limited.	Ovine	Necropsy reports are issued up to 14D after completion of necropsy.	$76.95	1 sheep foetus Final selection of the appropriate post mortem type is at the discretion of the pathologist performing the necropsy. Post mortem charges do not include additional diagnostic testing (e.g. bacterial culture, or histopathology). Animals for post mortem examination must be packaged and labelled appropriately, and accompanied by a completed submission form. Contact the laboratory to ensure the correct samples are collected, and further testing is performed as requested. Please contact Customer Service to discuss a diagnostic plan. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
TOX_ABE_ID	Toxoplasma gondii Indirect ELISA*	Clotted Blood/Serum (Red top) 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.	Caprine, Ovine, Companion	Up to 5D	$16.60	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday
TOXOG_QPCR	Toxoplasma gondii qPCR*	Placental tissue Brain Tissue Heart/muscle tissue Liver	Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Equine, Bovine, Feline, Canine	5D	$109.35	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday
TOXNE_MULT	Toxoplasma gondii & Neospora Multiplex qPCR*	Placental tissue Brain Tissue	Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Equine, Bovine, Feline, Canine	5D	$137.80	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday- Friday

Additional Sample Requirements

Histopathology Examination
Fixed tissue	CATS: 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.
Fixed tissue	OVINE/CAPRINE: 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.
Necropsy Examination
Aborted foetus	Whole aborted foetus and foetal membranes. Submit chilled in an insulated container.

Additional Information

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@dpird.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

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.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 APHL 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