Congenital Toxoplasmosis in a Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii was identified in tissues of a stillborn late-term fetus from an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Myocardial necrosis and nonsuppurative inflammation in the heart and nonsuppurative necrotizing encephalitis were associated with tachyzoites and tissue cysts. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-T. gondii-specific polyclonal rabbit serum.

Protozoal-related mortalities in endangered Hawaiian monk seals Neomonachus schauinslandi

“…Cases of vertical transmission in marine mammals are rare, but span developmental stages from early gestation to neonates (Van Pelt & Dietrich 1973, Jardine & Dubey 2002, Resendes et al 2002, Miller et al 2008b, Barbosa et al 2015, Carlson-Bremer et al 2015, Shapiro et al 2016.…”

“…Morbidity and mortality from vertically transmitted T. gondii infections in marine mammals are characterized by widespread necrosis and inflammation in association with intralesional tachyzoites and tissue cysts (Van Pelt & Dietrich 1973, Jardine & Dubey 2002, Resendes et al 2002, Miller et al 2008b, CarlsonBremer et al 2015. In contrast, vertically transmitted S. neurona infections of marine mammals generally result in severe but localized encephalitis rather than disseminated disease (Barbosa et al 2015).…”

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Canadian Pinnipeds

“…Lactation in beluga lasts up to 2 yr, and during their second yr, calves might feed on invertebrates (Brodie, 1971). Fatal congenital infections have been reported in a sea lion pup and in dolphin calves (Ratcliffe and Worth, 1951;Inskeep et al, 1990;Jardine and Dubey, 2002;Resendes et al, 2002). Dubey et al (2003) reported antibody titers against T. gondii in various marine mammals ranging from 1:25 to 1: 51,200.…”

“…Reports of serologically positive marine mammals include phocids, otariids, walrus, sea otters, and odontocetes (Dubey et al, 2003). Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) have been diagnosed with toxoplasmosis (Van Pelt and Dieterich, 1973;Miller et al, 2001b Presence of T. gondii in some captive marine mammals has been attributed to contamination of their food, water, or enclosures with oocysts from infected domestic or feral cats (Ratcliffe and Worth, 1951;Jardine and Dubey, 2002). Some researchers have hypothesized that sewage, storm, freshwater, or agricultural runoff containing oocysts passed by domestic or wild felids contaminate freshwater and marine environments, leading to infections in wild marine mammals (Bandoli and de Oliveira, 1977;Miller et al, 2002).…”

Heart pathologies in dolphins stranded along the northwestern Italian coast

“…The few cases of heart disease reported in cetaceans include infections (Guzmán-Verri et al 2012), parasites (Jardine & Dubey 2002), and malformations (Slijper 1961, Gray & Conklin 1974, Neurohr 1982, Troncone & Zizzo 1994, Powell et al 2009). Bossart et al (2007) reported cases of myocardial degeneration and moderate myocarditis in stranded sperm whales (Kogia spp.…”