The sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in British marine mammals

Abstract

Serum samples from 101 stranded or bycatch cetaceans from British waters were screened for Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies using the Sabin Feldman Dye Test. Relatively high seropositivity was recorded in shortbeaked Delphinus delphis and this study presents the first documented case of Toxoplasma in a humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in North-eastern Atlantic harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

“…The present results indicate natural exposure to T. gondii oocysts in the two seal species inhabiting the North Sea and adjacent waters. The presence of T. gondii antibodies (7.9% seroprevalence) in sera from cetaceans stranded along the UK coast has been recently reported (Forman et al, 2009). For definitive diagnosis, detection of the protozoan in tissues would be necessary.…”

Detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 (Pinnipedia, Phocidae) from Elephant Island

“…Antibodies against T. gondii have been detected in several species of marine mammals [5,[9][10][11][12]. Not only the occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii is known, but the clinical toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed in different species such as Mirounga angustirostris, Callorhinus ursinus, Phoca vitulina richardii, Zalophus californianus, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus aduncus, Stenella longirostris, Grampus griseus, Sotalia fluviaatilis guinensis, Trichechus manatus, Delphinapterus leucas [9,10].…”

“…Not only the occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii is known, but the clinical toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed in different species such as Mirounga angustirostris, Callorhinus ursinus, Phoca vitulina richardii, Zalophus californianus, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus aduncus, Stenella longirostris, Grampus griseus, Sotalia fluviaatilis guinensis, Trichechus manatus, Delphinapterus leucas [9,10]. Studies with several species of mammals around the world bring relevant information about the presence of the parasite T. gondii in the marine environment.…”

Pathological and Parasitological Findings in South American Fur Seal Pups (Arctocephalus australis) in Uruguay

“…The coastal ecosystems of Cabo Polonio, Isla de Lobos, and other pinnipeds settlement areas are strongly influenced by anthropogenic factors (sewage from cities and small towns near seal colonies, presence of domestic animals and plague species) that could promote the development of different infectious or parasitic diseases diagnosed in other marine mammal populations [3,6,[37][38][39][40]. In this context, an initial serological survey conducted in cats from Isla de Lobos (n = 3) resulted in high antibody titers against Toxoplasma spp., consistent with active infection (H. Katz, unpublished data), being a potential risk of infection for pinnipeds and other marine mammals.…”