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
 Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Resources
                        Our ScientistsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory 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
                                            FERNÁNDEZ-AGUILAR, XAVIER - Autonomous University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            AJZENBERG, DANIEL - Hospital And University Center Of Limogesitem
                                            CABEZÓN, OSCAR - Autonomous University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            MARTÍNEZ-LÓPEZ, ALEX - Goron Veterinary Hospitalitem
                                            DARWICH, LAILA - Autonomous University Of Barcelonaitem
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            ALMERIA, SONIA - Autonomous University Of Barcelona
  Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2013
                                    Publication  Date: 3/13/2013
                                    Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/57385Citation: Fernández-Aguilar, X., Ajzenberg, D., Cabezón, O., Martínez-López, A., Darwich, L., Dubey, J.P., Almeria, S. 2013. Fatal toxoplasmosis associated with an atypical Toxoplasma gondii strain in a Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) in Spain. Veterinary Parasitology. 196:523-527.Interpretive 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 under cooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts.  Why some hosts infected with Toxoplasma become sick whereas most remain asymptomatic is unknown. Recently, it has been hypothesized that virulence might be related to the strain of the parasite. In the present paper, scientists found that a strain with unusual genetic characteristics caused fatal illness in a wallaby. The authors discuss the host-parasite relationship. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers by helping refine our understanding of the factors that contribute to disease in this prevalent foodborne parasite.
                                Technical Abstract: Toxoplasmosis is often fatal in captive wallabies, but the causes of this high susceptibility are not well understood. Here, we report fatal toxoplasmosis in a Bennet ́s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) due to an atypical T. gondii strain for the first time in Europe. The wallaby was one of a colony of 7 Bennet ́s wallabies that died over a 17-month period at a safari-zoological park in northeastern Spain. Only one of these wallabies was examined at necropsy. T. gondii-like organisms were detected by histological examination in several tissues and the diagnosis was confirmed through detection of T. gondii DNA by PCR. A nested PCR-based assay detected the 200- to 300- fold repetitive 529 bp DNA fragment of T. gondii in a sample of brain tissue. Genotyping analysis with 15 single-copy microsatellite markers was performed on this positive DNA sample and revealed an atypical genotype. Atypical genotypes are frequently associated with severe forms of toxoplasmosis in humans. The present report highlights the possible implications of the introduction of new atypical, more pathogenic T. gondii strains, to non-endemic areas.


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