Acute toxoplasmosis in three wild arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) from Svalbard; one with co-infections of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 2b

Abstract

Acute disseminated toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in three wild arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) that were found dead in the same locality on Svalbard (Norway). The animals included one adult female and two 4-months-old pups. The adult fox was severely jaundiced. Necropsy revealed multifocal, acute, necrotizing hepatitis, acute interstitial pneumonia, and scattered foci of brain gliosis, often associated with Toxoplasma tachyzoites. One pup also had Toxoplasma-associated meningitis. In addition, the latter animal was infected with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 2b and Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 1 (PT1), which may have contributed to the severity of the Toxoplasma infection in this animal. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was confirmed by positive immunohistochemistry and detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in serum of all foxes. The animals were negative for Neospora caninum, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, and rabies virus on immunolabelling of tissue sections and smears.

Microbiologia de swabs retais e otológicos em carnívoros silvestres do zoológico do Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Pernambuco

“…em texugos-europeus (Meles meles) de vida livre. Sorensen et al (2005) isolou Salmonella spp. em 1/3 (33,3%) raposa-selvagem-do-Ártico (Alopex lagopus).…”

Serological survey of anti-Salmonella antibodies in coatis (Nasua narica) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) in southeast Mexico

“…Some studies show that a high prevalence of Salmonella in wild populations, as the presented here, correspond to human outbreaks in the same region, potentially indicating an epidemiological link (Hoelzer et al 2011); 2) the presence of Salmonella in wild carnivores might represents a serious conservation issue because fatal illness could occur, such as the outbreaks recorded recently in a wild artic fox (Alopex lagopus) and a captive ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). In the former case, Salmonella Enteritidis was a secondary pathogen associated to Toxoplasma gondii, which can contribute to the severity of pathological findings (acute liver necrosis, intussusception in the caudal jejunum, dehydration, splenic focal necrosis and fecal inconsistency) and consequently cause death (Sørensen et al 2005). In the latter case, the primary cause of the ocelot's death was a severe haemorrhagic enterocolitis and severe nephritis associated with the presence of the Salmonella enterica serovar Albany (Silva-Hidalgo et al 2012).…”

Wildlife parasites in a One Health world

“…Although a parasite may not generally be considered to be population-limiting, it may have greater significance in a wildlife population experiencing the cumulative effects of other pathogens and stressors. Evidence for effects of T. gondii is often limited to reports demonstrating pathology contributing to death in a wild animal [39,40], or experimental infections of captive or semi-domesticated wildlife [41]. Clinical toxoplasmosis is rarely reported even in domestic animals, with the exception of abortion Box 1.…”