Toxoplasmosis in a Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi )

Toxoplasma gondii infection in marine mammals is intriguing and indicative of contamination of the ocean environment with oocysts. T. gondii was identified in a Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) that had visceral and cerebral lesions. Tachyzoites were found in the lymph nodes, spleen, diap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of parasitology 2005-06, Vol.91 (3), p.695-697
Main Authors: Honnold, Shelley P, Braun, Robert, Scott, Dana P, Sreekumar, C, Dubey, J. P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenal Cortex - parasitology
Adrenal Cortex - pathology
Adrenal glands
Animals
Antibodies
Aquatic mammals
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - parasitology
Brain - pathology
Cerebrum
Contamination
Cysts
Diaphragm
Diaphragm - parasitology
Diaphragm - pathology
DNA, Protozoan - analysis
Edema
Endangered & extinct species
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
Genotype
Genotype & phenotype
Genotypes
Hawaii
Heart - parasitology
Hemorrhage
Immunohistochemistry - veterinary
Infections
Invertebrates
Laboratory animals
Lesions
Lymph nodes
Lymph Nodes - parasitology
Lymph Nodes - pathology
Lymphatic system
Male
Mammalia
Mammals
Marine environment
Marine mammals
Marine pollution
Monachus schauinslandi
Oocysts
Parasitology
Protozoa
RESEARCH NOTES
Seals, Earless - parasitology
Spleen
Spleen - parasitology
Spleen - pathology
Tachyzoites
Toxoplasma - classification
Toxoplasma - genetics
Toxoplasma - isolation & purification
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - diagnosis
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - parasitology
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - pathology
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Toxoplasma gondii infection in marine mammals is intriguing and indicative of contamination of the ocean environment with oocysts. T. gondii was identified in a Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) that had visceral and cerebral lesions. Tachyzoites were found in the lymph nodes, spleen, diaphragm, heart, adrenal glands, and brain. A few tissue cysts were found in sections of the cerebrum. The diagnosis was confirmed serologically, by immunohistochemical staining with T. gondii-specific polyclonal rabbit serum, and by the detection of T. gondii DNA. The genotype was determined to be type III by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the SAG2 gene. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in a Hawaiian monk seal.
ISSN:0022-3395
1937-2345
DOI:10.1645/GE-469R