Abstract

Background and Aim: The aims of the study are to detect the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antigen and to determine its distribution location in several organs of domestic cat using immunohistochemistry (IHC) method with Labeled-[Strept] Avidin-Biotin (LAB-SA).

Materials and Methods: Four domestic cats aged 1-2 years were used as sample in this research. The sample divided into two groups with two cats each. Cats in Group I were positive Toxoplasma based on serologically screening test, while cats in Group II were orally infected with 1x106 Toxoplasma oocyst. All samples then necropsied, and the organs including brain, liver, kidney, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, lungs, and spleen were collected for IHC method with LAB-SA. Result: The result showed that Toxoplasma antigens were detected in ileum of both serologically positive domestic cat and the experimentally infected cats. Toxoplasma was also observed in kidney of serologically positive domestic cat. In the serologically positive domestic cat, necrotic lesions were found on ileum, kidney, and liver, whereas in experimentally infected cat, the lesion was only found on ileum.

Conclusion: The presence of Toxoplasma antigen is successfully detected in several organs of domestic cat using IHC method with the LAB-SA. Keywords: cat, immunohistochemistry, labeled-[strept] avidin-biotin, Toxoplasma gondii.

Keywords: cat, immunohistochemistry, labeled-[strept] avidin-biotin, Toxoplasma gondii.