Infection with Toxoplasma gondii in a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and a Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) in captivity

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious, zoonotic and parasitic disease, caused by Toxoplasma gondii. In this manucript, two cases of infection with T. gondii in captive animals from a zoological park in the central region of Chile are described. One case was a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), which is highly susceptible to the infection, and the other was a Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum), a rodent in which there is no previous report of the infection. Both animals had myocarditis, with the presence of intralesional tachizoites and cysts suggestive of infection with T. gondii. This infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in both animals. The origin of the infection is unknown, but it is likely that free ranging domestic felines were associated with the dissemination of the parasites. This highlights the importance of controlling the domestic animal populations in zoological parks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that T. gondii infection is described in a Patagonian mara, adding a new host for this infectious agent.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, domestic feline, myocarditis, encephalitis. ResumoToxoplasmose é uma doença parasitária infecciosa e zoonótica causada por Toxoplasma gondii. São descritos dois animais com toxoplasmose, mantidos em cativeiro, em um zoológico na região central do Chile. Um destes foi um canguru vermelho (Macropus rufus), o qual é altamente suscetível à infecção; o outro foi uma mara (Dolichotis patagonum), um roedor sem relato prévio de infecção por T. gondii. Ambos os animais tinham miocardite associada a organismos protozoários intralesionais, sugestivos de infecção por Toxoplasma gondii. Esta infecção foi confirmada pela imuno-histoquímica, nos dois animais. A origem da infecção é desconhecida, mas é provável que felinos domésticos errantes estejam associados com a disseminação do protozoário. Isso destaca a importância do controle populacional de animais domésticos em zoológicos. Até onde se sabe, esta é a primeira vez que a infecção por T. gondii é descrita em uma mara, adicionando um novo hospedeiro para este agente infeccioso.Palavras-chave: Toxoplasma gondii, felino doméstico, miocardite, encefalite.

Anti-Toxoplasmaactivity of silver nanoparticles green synthesized withPhoenix dactyliferaandZiziphus spina-christiextracts which inhibits inflammation through liver regulation of cytokines in Balb/c mice

“…Conversely, following treatment with NPs, normal liver architectural was observed with limited inflammatory cell infiltration. Notably, Toxoplasma reproduction has not previously been observed in hepatic cells [53]. In the present study, NPs were able to partially restrain toxoplasmosis-induced decay of antioxidant enzyme activities; this preventive effect was also observed at the histological level.…”

Pathologic and immunohistochemical findings in an outbreak of systemic toxoplasmosis in a mob of red kangaroos

“…32 Although previous studies have evaluated the gross and microscopic lesions in several Australian marsupials, reports on IHC findings are scarce and limited to the use of antibodies that have been poorly characterized, with no known cross-reactivity to other apicomplexan protozoa. 6,10,17,29 Gross and histologic findings in our outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis in captive red kangaroos in Louisiana were similar to previous reports (Table 5), and were characterized by diffuse interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, myositis, encephalitis, hepatitis, and occasionally adrenalitis. Interestingly, all animals evaluated here had multifocal choroiditis, with one case of optic neuritis with intralesional parasitophorous vacuoles containing zoites and another with a small glial nodule within the neurohypophysis.…”

Toxoplasma gondii in four captive kangaroos (Macropus spp.) in China: Isolation of a strain of a new genotype from an eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

“…1 C and D), and bioassays in mice. Histopathological evidence of T. gondii in tissues has been found in the skeletal muscle, adrenal gland, brain, heart, liver, stomach, intestine, and mesenteric lymph node of marsupials (Dubey et al, 1988; Fernandez-Aguilar et al, 2013; Basso et al, 2007; Bermudez et al, 2009; More et al, 2010; Diaz-Ayala et al, 2016). A large number of T. gondii cysts were detected in the skeletal muscles of case 2 kangaroo and the brains of inoculated mice.…”

“…in zoos around the world were imported from Australia and New Zealand; some zoos then started to breed these animals locally. Mortality of captive marsupials infected with T. gondii has been reported, and some animals have also been reported to develop chronic infection (More et al, 2010; Guthrie et al, 2017; Dubey, 2010; Diaz-Ayala et al, 2016). There are few reports concerning genotyping of T. gondii from kangaroos and wallabies.…”