Changes

Supportive care should be given to cats and dogs with clinical toxoplasmosis as required. The specific treatment for ''Toxoplasma gondii'' infection is clindamycin, at a dose of 12-25mg/kg per os every 12 hours. Treatment should generally be given for four weeks, but should continue for at least two weeks after clinical signs have disappeared. Side effects can include acute vomiting and diarrhoea, but stopping treatment for a day or so before reintroducing the drug usually resolves this. Alternatively, a trimethoprim-potentiated sulphonamide may be used at 15mg/kg orally, twice daily for 4 weeks. This is useful in animals where clindamycin is not tolerated or is ineffective in treating CNS toxoplasmosis. Trimethoprim-sulphonamides can cause depression, anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, so a complete blood cell cound should be performed every two weeks to monitor this. Macrolides such as spiramycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin may also be effective against toxoplamosis, but have not yet been evaluated in cats and dogs. In toxoplasma-induced uveitis, intraocular inflammatory reactions can cause lens luxation and glaucoma, and so animals with uveitis should be prescribed topical glucocorticoids in addtion to clindamycin or potentiated sulphonamides. 1% prednisolone drops every 8 hours for two weeks are often used.  

Supportive care should be given to cats and dogs with clinical toxoplasmosis as required. The specific treatment for ''Toxoplasma gondii'' infection is clindamycin, at a dose of 12-25mg/kg per os every 12 hours. Treatment should generally be given for four weeks, but should continue for at least two weeks after clinical signs have disappeared. Side effects can include acute vomiting and diarrhoea, but stopping treatment for a day or so before reintroducing the drug usually resolves this. Alternatively, a trimethoprim-potentiated sulphonamide may be used at 15mg/kg orally, twice daily for 4 weeks. This is useful in animals where clindamycin is not tolerated or is ineffective in treating CNS toxoplasmosis. Trimethoprim-sulphonamides can cause depression, anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, so a complete blood cell cound should be performed every two weeks to monitor this. Macrolides such as spiramycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin may also be effective against toxoplamosis, but have not yet been evaluated in cats and dogs. In toxoplasma-induced uveitis, intraocular inflammatory reactions can cause lens luxation and glaucoma, and so animals with uveitis should be prescribed topical glucocorticoids in addtion to clindamycin or potentiated sulphonamides. 1% prednisolone drops every 8 hours for two weeks are often used.  

Animals should be re-examined two days after commencement of treatment, when clinical signs should begin to resolve. At two weeks, uveitis should be completely resolved, and neurological deficits should show improvement. Two weeks after the owner reports clinical recovery, the animal should be re-examined for a third time, and a decision made as to discontinuation of treatment. It should be noted that some neuromuscular changes may not fully resolve, due to permanent CNS damage.  

Animals should be re-examined two days after commencement of treatment, when clinical signs should begin to resolve. If this is not the case, an alternative anti-''Toxoplasma'' drug should be considered. At two weeks, uveitis should be completely resolved, and neurological deficits should show improvement. Two weeks after the owner reports clinical recovery, the animal should be re-examined for a third time, and a decision made as to discontinuation of treatment. It should be noted that some neuromuscular changes may not fully resolve, due to permanent CNS damage.  

Toxoplasmosis may be prevented through dietary and behavioural modifications. Cats and dogs should not be fed raw meat or animal products or unpasteurised milk. The should also not be permitted to hunt birds or rodents, and access to food-producing animals should be restricted.

Toxoplasmosis may be prevented through dietary and behavioural modifications. Cats and dogs should not be fed raw meat or animal products or unpasteurised milk. The should also not be permitted to hunt birds or rodents, and access to food-producing animals should be restricted.