The first report of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in free-living European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus Linnaeus)

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908 is an apicomplexan parasite with a worldwide distribution. it is of great medical and veterinary importance because it may cause abortion or congenital disease in its intermediate hosts, including man. the European bison, the largest herbivorous animal in Europe, is a species that has been saved from extinction. twentyfour of 95 examined sera of the European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus) from the Białowieża Forest, Poland collected from 2008 to 2011 were found to be positive for the presence of T. gondii-specific igg antibodies using a direct agglutination test, with the antibody titre in positive animals ranging from 40 to 18 000. statistically significant differences were observed only between years of sample collection. this is the first report on T. gondii in lowland European bison living in the natural environment.

Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> antibodies in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Strzałowo Forest Division, Warmia and Mazury Region, Poland

“…Data on the occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild animals are scarce. The research was carried out in omnivores (wild boar), carnivores (raccoons) [59] and herbivores (European bison) [60].…”

First Toxoplasma gondii isolate from an aborted foetus of European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus L.)

“…It is possible that these environments may be contaminated with the faeces of the domestic and wild cats commonly present in this area. The high seroprevalence of T. gondii in European bison (25%) (Majewska et al 2014 ) indicates the presence of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts shed by felids, combined with a lack of genetic variation and high level of inbreeding (Dubey 2010 ; Tokarska et al 2011 ). Nothing is known of the prevalence of T. gondii in feral domestic and wild felids in Poland and needs investigation.…”

“…Although T. gondii can be transmitted transplacentally in cattle, there is no confirmed report of clinical toxoplasmosis in cattle (Dubey 2010 ). With respect to T. gondii infection in European bison, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 24 of 95 (23.5%) of free-ranging bison in Poland (Majewska et al 2014 ) and all of four captive European bison living in a zoo in the Czech Republic (Sedlák and Bártová 2006 ). Very low seropositivity has been reported for the American bison: T. gondii antibodies have been found in three (3.1%) of 93 bison from Montana (Dubey 1985 ), and two (0.8%) of 241 from Alaska (Zarnke et al 2000 ).…”

Biopsy and Tracheobronchial Aspirates as Additional Tools for the Diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis in Living European Bison (Bison bonasus)

“…For BTB diagnostics in wildlife, one of the main challenges in using diagnostic tests based on immunological methods remains the identification of specific biomarkers for specific species [12,13]. Therefore, many existing diagnostic methods for living wildlife, including EB, are based on serological tests [14,15]. However, with tests based on immunological responses, there is a risk of getting false positive results, e.g., due to cross-reactions with non-tuberculous Mycobacteria [16] or false negative results, e.g., as a result of infections with immunodeficiency viruses or initial phase of infection [17,18].…”