Michelle, I can't find anything to suggest abdominal effusion is a symptom of Toxoplasmosis, would you mind posting where you saw that? All the sites I've seen says most cats show no symptoms at all. Of the ones that mentioned symptoms, nothing popped out at me as being similar to FIP. here are some examples.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1359&articleid=770 says: The signs of toxoplasmosis in pets are nonspecific: fever, loss of appetite, depression. Further signs may occur depending on whether the infection is acute or chronic, and where T. gondii is found in the body. In the eye, it can cause inflammation; in the lungs, pneumonia; in the heart, arrhythmias; in the digestive tract, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and jaundice; in the nervous system, seizures, paralysis and loss of nerve function; in muscle, a stiff gait and loss of muscle. http://www.fabcats.org/toxoplasmosis.html says: The most commonly reported clinical signs associated with feline toxoplasmosis are anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, dyspnoea (due to pneumonia), ocular signs (iritis, chorioretinitis) and pyrexia. Other less common features include gastrointestinal signs (vomiting/diarrhoea), neurological signs, lymphadenopathy, jaundice, myositis and abortion. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html says: Most cats show no clinical signs of infection with Toxoplasma. Occasionally, however, clinical disease-toxoplasmosis-occurs, kittens and young adult cats being more often affected than older animals. Lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, and fever are typical early nonspecific signs. Pneumonia, manifested by respiratory distress of gradually increasing severity, is the outstanding sign in many cats. Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) may cause vomiting, diarrhea, prostration, and jaundice (yellowing of the mucous membranes). Inflammation of the pancreas and enlargement of lymph nodes also occur. Toxoplasmosis can also affect the eyes and central nervous system, producing inflammation of the retina or anterior ocular chamber, abnormal pupil size and responsiveness to light, blindness, incoordination, heightened sensitivity to touch, personality changes, circling, head pressing, twitching of the ears, difficulty in chewing and swallowing food, seizures, and loss of control over urination and defecation. http://www.hdw-inc.com/healthtoxo.htm says: Often, there are no clinical signs to this disease in cats. On occasion, there are some early non-specific symptoms such as lethargy, depression, loss of appetite and fever, especially in kittens and young adult cats. The most outstanding sign in most cats is feline pneumonia, which shows up as respiratory distress that continues to increase in severity. Toxoplasmosis can also affect the eyes and the central nervous system, producing inflammation of the retina, possible abnormal pupil size, and even blindness, lack of coordination, personality changes, circling, head pressing, ear twitching, seizures, difficulty in chewing and swallowing food, seizures, and loss of control over urination and defecation functions. Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, can also occur which can bring about episodes of vomiting, diarrhea, prostration and jaundice, which is yellowing of the mucous membranes. The pancreas can also become inflamed and the lymph nodes may become enlarged. http://www.capcvet.org/default.asp?p=Guidelines_Toxoplasma says: a.. Toxoplasmosis is a multisystemic infection characterized by granulomatous inflammation associated with tachyzoite proliferation in the tissues. b.. Organs and tissues commonly affected include lymph nodes, liver, lung, brain/spinal cord, and eye. c.. Toxoplasmosis may cause focal or generalized lymphadenitis, encephalitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, and retinochoroiditis. d.. There may be associated fever, weight loss, and lethargy. Phaewryn http://ucat.us Adopt a New England FIV+ cat: http://ucat.us/FIVadopt.html Special Needs Cat Links (and feline info library): http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Declawing Creates SUFFERING, Please don't declaw! http://www.pawproject.com/kona.html
