Specificity
Goat anti Toxoplasma gondii antibody recognises the RH strain of the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a causitive agent of toxoplasmosis in many species of warm blooded animals. Felids are the only definitive host for T. gondii.. Infection is usually sub-clinical with symptoms depending on the level of tachyzoite release, the ability of the host to limit tachyzoite spread and the organs damaged by the tachyzoites. Immunocompetent adult animals generally limit tachyzoite spread and infection remains subclinical. However in young or immunocompromised animals infection can develop to an acute gereralised toxoplasmosis. T. gondii is an important zoonotic agent with up to 60% of some human populations demonstrating Serum IgG titers to the organism. These are likely to be persistently infected. The organism is of particular concern in immunocomprimised individuals such as those with HIV infection, who become increasingly susceptible to the organism as the immune system wanes. Infection is also of considerable concern in pregnant women as it can migrate across the placenta and cause birth defects in human foetuses.
