Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Intracranial Toxoplasma gondii granuloma in a cat.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Pfohl, Jessica C & Dewey, Curtis W
- Affiliation:
- Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old cat started having seizures and was found to have a mass in its brain after an MRI scan. The mass was removed and tested, revealing it was a Toxoplasma gondii granuloma, which is a type of infection caused by a parasite. The cat was given medication to control the seizures and then treated with another medication for about a month to address the infection. Unfortunately, the seizures came back eight months later, and the owner decided to have the cat euthanized. This case highlights the importance of considering Toxoplasma infection when a cat has a brain mass and shows signs of illness.
Abstract
An 8-year-old cat with recent-onset generalized seizures was diagnosed with a right forebrain mass using magnetic resonance imaging. The mass was excised and upon histologic and immunohistochemical examination shown to be a Toxoplasma gondii granuloma. Serology supported active T gondii infection. The cat was treated with phenobarbital to control seizures. After definitive diagnosis of toxoplasma granuloma, clindamycin was administered for approximately 1 month. Seizures recurred 8 months after initial presentation, and the cat was euthanased at the owner's request. This is a previously unreported manifestation of feline central nervous system toxoplasmosis. When a mass lesion is present in the brain of a cat and serologic test results support active infection with T gondii, toxoplasma granuloma must be a differential diagnosis. If the patient is suffering from clinical disease, surgical resection of the mass (if possible) can be complimented with medical treatment until definitive diagnosis is obtained. Immunocompromising factors should be identified and addressed if possible.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15914056/