Section: Information In-depth
Related Symptoms or Diseases
Neospora caninum is an infectious disease caused by a protozoal organism, which is similar to toxoplasma gondii. Neosporosis produces symptoms that are identical to those of toxoplasmosis and the diagnosis is made on the basis of a negative titer for toxoplasma and a positive titer for neospora.
Acute viral gastroenteritis results in loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and a low white blood cell count. The most common viruses causing these symptoms are parvovirus and coronavirus. These viruses usually affect young, unvaccinated dogs and may be differentiated from toxoplasmosis on the basis of negative titers for toxoplasmosis.
Canine distemper virus usually affects young, unvaccinated dogs and results in signs of gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea), respiratory disease (increased respiratory rate and effort) and central nervous system disease (behavior changes, seizures, coma). Canine distemper virus is very difficult to diagnose and would be differentiated from toxoplasmosis on the basis of the pet's age, medical history and toxoplasmosis titers.
Protothecosis is a green algae that causes systemic infection in dogs. This organism is found in sewage, animal waste, and contaminated soil and food. Protothecosis causes loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, depression, incoordination, paralysis, and ocular lesions. This disease may be distinguished from toxoplasmosis on the basis of toxoplasma titers.
