Immunity to Hammondia hammondi infection in cats.

Acquisition of immunity to Hammondia hammondi, a newly recognized coccidian of cats, was studied in 18 specific-pathogen-free cats. One cat was given a single oral inoculation, 11 cats were given 2 oral inoculations, and 1 cat was given 3 oral inoculations of homogenized mouse carcasses containing H hammondi. In all cats, oocyst shedding began 6 to 9 days after the 1st inoculation. Oocyst shedding peaked at 1 to 2 days after the onset of shedding and lasted for 1 to 2 weeks. None of the cats became sick. Of the 11 cats inoculated twice (between 2-51 days after the 1st inoculation), 5 shed oocysts 7 to 14 days after the repeat inoculation; however, fewer oocysts were shed at this time. One cat that was inoculated thrice (14 and 51 days after the 1st inoculation) shed oocysts 14 to 17 days after the 3rd inoculation but not after the 2nd inoculation. Spontaneous oocyst shedding was studied in 9 of these 13 H hammondi-infected cats for 5 months. Two cats spontaneously shed oocysts: One cat (inoculated only once) spontaneously re-shed oocysts 21 to 24, 31 to 33, 49 to 50, and 118 to 120 days after inoculation; The other cat (inoculated twice-the 2nd time, 6 days after the 1st inoculation) re-shed oocysts 38 to 48, 85 to 89, and 133 to 136 days after the 1st inoculation. The course of H hammondi infection was studied in 5 cats given weekly injections of 6-methyl prednisolone acetate for at least 7 weeks, starting 18 days before inoculation in 2 cats, and starting 14, 34, and 45 day after inoculation in 3 cats. The induced hyperadrenocorticism did not affect the prepatent period or induce parasitism of extraintestinal organs. The 3 cats infected for 14, 34, and 45 days, re-shed oocysts after hyperadrenocorticism was induced. It was concluded that immunity to H hammondi infection in cats is less stable than immunity to the related coccidian, Toxoplasma gondii.