Y. Omata et al., TRANSFER OF ANTIBODIES TO KITTENS FROM MOTHER CATS CHRONICALLY INFECTED WITH TOXOPLASMA-GONDII, Veterinary parasitology, 52(3-4), 1994, pp. 211-218
By indirect immunofluorescence assay, anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody
levels were examined in fetuses and kittens born from chronically infe
cted cats. Titer of anti-T. gondii IgG in sera of kittens born from in
fected cats was significantly high on the seventh day post-birth, and
decreased to a serologically non-detectable level at 8-12 weeks post-b
irth under continuous suckling of maternal milk. Littermates nursed by
a non-infected cat showed a faster rate of IgG antibody depletion. In
sera of fetuses obtained from infected cats, anti-T. gondii IgG titer
was lower than that of offspring born from infected cats. Anti-T. gon
dii IgM titer was non-detectable in sera of all kittens and fetuses. K
ittens born from infected cats inoculated with T. gondii oocysts on Da
y 35 after birth shed oocysts and showed a transient increase of anti-
T. gondii IgM titer. Findings in this study suggest that anti-T. gondi
i antibody IgG in kittens is transferred mainly via colostrum and the
kittens that receive maternal anti-T. gondii antibodies develop inadeq
uate resistance to T. gondii infection.