Feline and Canine Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Test Card (Colloidal Gold Method)

Target and Hazard: Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed zoonotic protozoan parasite. Felids are the only definitive hosts, while dogs, cats and many other warm-blooded animals, including humans, can act as intermediate hosts. Infected cats shed oocysts in faeces, contaminating the environment, and dogs and cats become infected by eating raw meat containing tissue cysts or by ingesting a contaminated environment or water. Infection in dogs and cats is often subclinical, but young or immunocompromised animals may develop fever, respiratory and neurological signs; infection of pregnant bitches and queens can cause abortion, stillbirth or weak offspring by transplacental transmission. T. gondii is of major public health importance, especially for pregnant women and immunocompromised people.

Significance of Testing: The card detects T. gondii-specific antibodies in canine and feline serum/plasma for rapid screening and assessment of infection status, helping to determine previous exposure or infection history and providing a reference for clinical management, household hygiene and risk assessment for high-risk groups such as pregnant women in contact with pets. Antibody results help to distinguish recent from past infection.

Principle: Colloidal gold immunochromatographic indirect assay: specific T. gondii antigen is coated on the test line (T); specific antibodies in the sample are captured by the antigen and then bound by gold-labelled anti-dog/anti-cat antibody, producing a visible line. The control line (C) confirms test and procedure validity.

Performance and Applications: No equipment required; samples: serum or whole blood; visual reading within 10–15 minutes; store and ship at 2–30 °C in a cool, dry place, with an 24-month shelf life. Suitable for rapid on-site screening at veterinary hospitals, canine and feline breeding facilities and primary clinics; positive results should be confirmed by laboratory methods. Method: colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (indirect) | Samples: serum or whole blood (dog, cat) | Time to result: 10–15 min | Reading: visual assessment of T/C lines — a coloured T line indicates a positive antibody result, C line is the procedural control | Format: tests/box (as stated on the label) | Storage: 2–30 °C, cool and dry; shelf life 24 months | Note: sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, intra-/inter-assay CV and agreement with reference methods such as IHA/ELISA are subject to our internal QC report.