U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            LINDSAY, DAVID - VIRGINIA TECHitem
                                            COLLINS, MARINA - VIRGINIA TECHitem
                                            MITCHELL, SHEILA - VIRGINIA TECHitem
                                            COLE, REBECCA - NAT WILDLIFE HEALTH CNTRitem
                                            FLICK, GEORGE - VIRGINIA TECHitem
                                            WETCH, CARLY - VIRGINIA TECHitem
                                            LINDQUIST, ALAN - ENVMNTL PROTECTION AGENCYitem
                                            Dubey, Jitender
  Submitted to: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2003
                                    Publication  Date: 11/18/2003
                                    Citation: Lindsay, D., Collins, M., Mitchell, S., Cole, R., Flick, G., Wetch, C., Lindquist, A., Dubey, J.P. 2003. Sporulation and survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in sea water. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 50:S687-S688.Interpretive Summary: Infections by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes mortalities in humans and animals.  Recently, Toxoplasma has been found to kill marine mammals.  Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg have found that Toxoplasma oocysts can survive in sea water for six months.  These findings will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and public health workers.
                                Technical Abstract: Since 1992, we have been collaborating in studies on southern sea otters (Enhdyra lutris nereis) as part of a program to define factors which may be responsible for limiting the growth of the southern sea otter population. We previously demonstrated Toxoplasma gondii in sea otters. We postulated that cat feces containing oocysts could be entering the marine environment through storm run-off or through municipal sewage since cat feces are often disposed down toilets by cat owners. The present study addressed the sporulation of T. gondii oocysts in sea water and the survival of sporulated oocysts in sea water. Unsporulated oocysts were placed in 15 ppt artificial sea water, 32 ppt artificial sea water or 2% sulfuric acid (positive control) at 24 C in an incubator. Samples were examined daily for 3 days and development monitored by counting 100 oocysts from each sample. From 75 to 80% of the oocysts were sporulated by 3 days postinoculation in all treatments. Groups of 2 mice were fed 10,000 oocysts each from each of the 3 treatments. All inoculated mice developed toxoplasmosis indicating that oocysts were capable of sporulating in sea water. Survival of sporulated oocysts was examined by placing sporulated T. gondii oocysts in 15 ppt sea water at room temperature 22-24 C (RT) or in a refrigerator kept at 4 C. Mice fed oocysts that had been stored at 4C or RT for 6 months became infected. These results indicate that T. gondii oocysts can sporulate in and remain viable in sea water for several months.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov