Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the milk of experimentally infected lactating cats

Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii have been found in the milk of sheep, goat s, cows and mice and infection by ingestion of raw goat milk has been docum ented in humans. Lactational transmission from infected cats to their kitte ns is suspected but the organism has not been detected in the milk. The pur pose of this study was to demonstrate the presence of T gondii in the milk of experimentally infected cats. Pregnant specific pathogen free cats were inoculated orally with T gondii at various times prior to parturition. Fece s were examined for oocyst shedding after sugar solution centrifugation. Mi lk was collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bioassay in mice. T gondii was detected in the milk of five of six cats by either bioassay or PCR. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.