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Title:   Author  item
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            SUNDAR, N - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            NOLDEN, C - U WISCONSIN MADISONitem
                                            SAMUEL, M - U WISCONSIN MADISONitem
                                            VELMURGAN, G - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            BANDINI, LA - USDA ARS ANRI APDLitem
                                            Kwok, Oliveritem
                                            BODENSTEIN, B - U WISCONSIN MADISONitem
                                            SU, C - U TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
  Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2007
                                    Publication  Date: 12/5/2007
                                    Citation: Dubey, J.P., Sundar, N., Nolden, C.A., Samuel, M.D., Velmurgan, G.V., Bandini, L., Kwok, O.C., Bodenstein, B., Su, C. 2007. Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans ), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Wisconsin identified several atypical genotypes. Journal of Parasitology. 93:1524-1527Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts.Toxoplasmosis causes mortality in many species of animals in the zoos, especially primates.

Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center  and the University of Wisconsin report high prevalence of Toxoplasma in wildlife from Misconsin. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists,  and veterinarians.
                                Technical Abstract: During 2005-2006, sera and tissues from raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from the state of Wisconsin were tested for Toxoplasma gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 32 of 54 (59.2 %) raccoons, 18 of 35 (51.4 %) coyotes, and 5 of 7 (71.4 %) skunks using the modified agglutination test and a cut-off titer of 1:20. Pooled tissues (brains, hearts, and tongues) from 30 raccoons, 15 coyotes, and 1 skunk were bioassayed for T. gondii infection in mice or cats. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 5 of 30 (16.7%) raccoons, 6 of 15 (40.0%) coyotes and the skunk. Genetic characterization of the 12 parasite isolates by multi-locus PCR-RFLP markers revealed 6 different genotypes including 5 atypical and 1 archetypal II lineages. The results indicate the prevalence of T. gondii in wildlife mammals is high and that these animals may serve as an important reservoir for transmission of T. gondii.


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