Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in three common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); A first description from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Bigal, Eyal; Morick, Danny; Scheinin, Aviad; Salant, Harold; Berkowitz, Asaf; King, Roni; Levy, Yaniv; Melero, Mar; Sánchez‐Vizcaíno, José Manuel; Goffman, Oz; Hadar, Nir; Roditi-Elasar, Mia; Tchernov, Dan

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.06.009

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…T. gondii is a worldwide diffused zoonotic parasite affecting humans and animals, showing an heteroxenous lifecycle involving intermediate hosts, virtually all warm-blooded animals, and felid definitive hosts [ 42 , 43 ]. In dolphins, T. gondii is considered one of the main causes or a main contributing cause of stranding episodes and mortality [ 18 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In fact, in dolphins, T. gondii infection frequently causes encephalitis, myocarditis, lymphadenitis, abortion, and death [ 47 , 48 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How dolphins may acquire T. gondii infection is still controversial, although the ingestion of contaminated water or fish are currently considered the most likely route [ 44 , 47 , 52 ]. It has been suggested that oocysts poured into the sea with surface waters and sewers containing faeces of the final felid hosts may contaminate the marine environment with oocysts [ 11 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dolphins Stranded along the Tuscan Coastline (Central Italy) of the “Pelagos Sanctuary”: A Parasitological Investigation

et al. 2020

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Parasite monitoring is considered a necessary step for cetacean management and conservation. Between February 2013 and July 2015, 26 dolphins (15 Stenella coeruleoalba, 10 Tursiops truncatus, and one Grampus griseus) stranded along the Tuscan coastline of the protected marine area “Pelagos Sanctuary”, were examined. Organs, tissues, and faecal and blood samples taken from all animals were analysed by parasitological, immunological, and molecular techniques. Twenty-one out of 26 dolphins (80.77%) tested positive for at least one parasite species, and 13/15 (86.7%) S. coeruleoalba, 7/10 (70%) T. truncatus, and the single G. griseus were found positive. Identified parasites included the nematodes Skrjabinalius guevarai (7.69%, 2/26), Halocercus lagenorhynchi (3.85%, 1/26), Halocercus delphini (7.69%, 2/26), Stenurus ovatus (7.69%, 2/26), Crassicauda spp. (7.69%, 2/26); the trematodes Pholeter gastrophilus (26.92%, 7/26), Campula palliata (3.85%, 1/26); the cestodes Phyllobothrium delphini (42.31%, 11/26), Monorygma grimaldii (23.08%, 6/26), Tetrabothrium forsteri (7.69%, 2/26), Strobilocephalus triangularis (7.69%, 2/26), and the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma vasculosum (7.69%, 2/26). Moreover, 6/26 (23%) animals scored positive to Toxoplasma gondii at serology, but PCR confirmed the infection (T. gondii Type II genotype) in a single animal. In examined dolphins, obtained results showed a high prevalence of endoparasites, which included species considered as a cause of severe debilitation or death.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolphins Stranded along the Tuscan Coastline (Central Italy) of the “Pelagos Sanctuary”: A Parasitological Investigation

et al. 2020

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“…Aquatic animals are known to consume molluscs, and their role as paratenic hosts has been hypothesized; however, this hypothesis has not been tested (Fayer et al, 2004;Miller et al, 2008). Molecular studies have detected T. gondii DNA in aquatic vertebrates such as porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), confirming the presence of T. gondii in marine environments (Bigal et al, 2018;Van de Velde et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in an estuarine region in eastern Amazon

Monteiro

Rocha

Silva

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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The aim of the present study was to detect DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in the state of Pará, Brazil. A total of 400 oysters were directly collected from a fixed rack system. Gills, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and intervalvular liquid were separated and grouped into pool samples of 10 animals, resulting in 40 samples each of gills, GIT and intervalvular liquid. DNA extraction was performed using a commercial kit, and T. gondii DNA was detected by nested PCR using the primers Toxo3 and Toxo4, which produced an amplification product of 155 bp of the T. gondii gene B1. Nucleotide sequencing was performed for positive samples, and the obtained sequences were identified by comparison with sequences in GenBank. The DNA of T. gondii was detected in 5.8% (7/120) of the pool samples, of which 7.5% (3/40) was in the GIT, 5% (2/40) in the gills, and 5% (2/40) was in the intervalvular liquid. The obtained sequences presented 100% identity and overlap with T. gondii DNA sequences. This is the report of detection of T. gondii DNA in oysters from genus Crassostrea spp. originating from the state of Pará, eastern Amazon.

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“…Toxoplasma gondii infections in common bottlenose dolphins have been observed worldwide; in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (CRUICKSHANK et al, 1990;INSKEEP et al, 1990;DI GUARDO et al, 1995;DUBEY et al, 2008;PRETTI et al, 2010;PROFETA et al, 2015;BIGAL et al, 2018), and also in captive specimens (DUBEY et al, 2009). Furthermore, it has also been detected in a related species from the Pacific Ocean -the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (JARDINE & DUBEY, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of these studies have covered individual cases or small groups of cetaceans (DI GUARDO et al, 2010;GONZALES-VIERA et al, 2013). Toxoplasmosis is a significant cause of morbidity and may lead to stranding and death, and is considered one of the most important emerging diseases in cetaceans worldwide (VAN BRESSEM et al, 2009;DI GUARDO et al, 2010;GONZALES-VIERA et al, 2013;BIGAL et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii in cetaceans of Brazil: a histopathological and immunohistochemical survey

Costa-Silva

Sacristán

Gonzales-Viera³

et al. 2019

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In cetaceans, T. gondii infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the worldwide range and broad cetacean host record of T. gondii infection, there is limited information on toxoplasmosis in cetaceans from the Southern hemisphere. We investigated the occurrence of T. gondii by histopathology and immunohistochemistry in tissue samples of 185 animals comprising 20 different cetacean species from Brazil. Three out of 185 (1.6%) animals presented T. gondii-associated lesions: a captive killer whale Orcinus orca, a free-ranging common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and a free-ranging Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis. The main lesions observed in these animals were necrotizing hepatitis, adrenalitis and lymphadenitis associated with protozoal cysts or extracellular tachyzoites presenting immunolabeling with anti-T. gondii antibodies. This study widens the spectrum of species and the geographic range of this agent in Brazil, and provides the first reports of T. gondii infection in a captive killer whale and in a free-ranging common bottlenose dolphin in South America.

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Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in three common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); A first description from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 18 publications

References 20 publications

Dolphins Stranded along the Tuscan Coastline (Central Italy) of the “Pelagos Sanctuary”: A Parasitological Investigation

Dolphins Stranded along the Tuscan Coastline (Central Italy) of the “Pelagos Sanctuary”: A Parasitological Investigation

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in an estuarine region in eastern Amazon

Toxoplasma gondii in cetaceans of Brazil: a histopathological and immunohistochemical survey

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