[Transmission of toxoplasma oocysts from domestic cats to rabbits (author's transl)].

Abstract

The importance of the role of toxoplasma oocysts in the mode of spread of the infection for men and animal has differently been estimated. In own earlier experiments, we found out that the transmission of the infection by means of oocysts from cat to cat is not the rule. In a similar experimental setup, we tested now whether rabbits can be infected by getting into contact with faeces of cats containing sporulated toxoplasma oocysts (see table 1). 8 toxoplasma-free rabbits and two toxoplasma-free cats as control were placed on infectious faeces of 10 cats (group 1-8). As further controls served four non-infected rabbits being kept in the same cage (group 11-12). Four of eight rabbits which had been placed on the infectious faeces and one control animal having had no intended contact with those faeces got infected. Our experiments show that the question whether domestic cats have any significance as source of infection with toxoplasms cannot generally be answered. It has to be differentiated each time which mammal gets into contact with oocysts.