Table 1 Clinical toxoplasmosis in Australasian marsupials
Host | Country | Main findings | References |
|---|---|---|---|
Agile wallaby (Macropus agilis) | USA | See text. Case 2, DNA extracted from heart tissue, genotype #263 | [5] |
Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) | Germany | An 8.5-year-old male wallaby had fever, neurological and ophthalmic signs. Serological testing by IHAa revealed a titer of > 1:1024. The animal recovered after subcutaneous injections of trimethoprim/sulfadoxin (15 mg/kg) for 7 days | [6] |
Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) | Spain | 9-year-old male. Histologically confirmed disseminated toxoplasmosis, including lymph nodes. T. gondii DNA extracted from the brain was PCR positive and found to be atypical genotype based on 15 microsatellite markers | [7] |
Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) | USA | 9 of the 10 wallabies imported from New Zealand to a zoo in Virginia died of acute toxoplasmosis; all were seronegative at the time of import. Myositis, encephalitis, myocarditis, and interstitial pneumonia were the main lesions and the diagnosis was confirmed by IHC and PCR. Genotyping of the isolates suggested 2 sources of infection acquired in the USA. From 6 wallaby tissues, the DNA was typed as PCR-RFLP-ToxoDB genotype #263, and from the 3 others the genotype was ToxoDB #4, commonly found in wildlife | [8] |
Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) | USA | See text. Case 3, DNA extracted from heart and lung tissues, genotype #2 | [5] |
Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) | Argentina | Non-suppurative encephalitis was found at necropsy of 1 captive kangaroo that died. Diagnosis was confirmed by IHC and PCR. T. gondii was isolated from brain and diaphragm of the kangaroo. Genotyping using 9 PCR-RFLP markers from heart and hind limb revealed genotype II | [9] |
Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) | China | 6-year-old female born in captivity in China died suddenly, probably of bacterial infection. Tissue cysts were found in tongue and diaphragm. The animal was MAT-positive and T. gondii DNA was detected in tissue extract. Viable T. gondii (TgRooCHn1) was isolated by bioassay in mice. PCR-RFLP-ToxoDB genotype was #292 | [10] |
Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) | Japan | Carcass of 1 adult, male kangaroo with neurological signs, anorexia, diarrhea, arrhythmia, was necropsied. Lesions were seen in lungs, brain and heart. Diagnosis confirmed by IHC | [11] |
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) | Argentina | Non-suppurative encephalitis was found at necropsy of 1 captive kangaroo that died in captivity. Focal necrosis in heart and striated muscles with presence of T. gondii-like tachyzoites and cysts. Diagnosis was confirmed by IHC and PCR. T. gondii was isolated from brain and diaphragm of the kangaroo. Genotyping using 9 PCR-RFLP markers from heart and hind limb revealed genotype III | [9] |
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) | Chile | 1 adult female in zoo was found dead. Toxoplasmosis associated lesions were seen in heart, and lung. The diagnosis was confirmed by IHC | [12] |
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) | China | 5-year-old male born in captivity in China. Main lesions were pneumonitis and glomerulonephritis. Tissue cysts were found in histological sections. The animal was MAT-negative but PCR positive. Attempts to isolate T. gondii by bioassay in mice were unsuccessful | [10] |
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) | USA | 1-year-old male with a 1-day history of depression, labored respiration and lethargy. Disseminated toxoplasmosis including fore stomach. Gastric ulceration with concurrent amoebic infection. Diagnosis confirmed by IHC | [13] |
Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) | USA | See text. 8 cases 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11. Three isolates obtained (cases 1, 6, 8), the others DNA extracted from heart tissues. Genotype by 10 PCR-RFLP markers, identified three genotypes: #2 in 4 kangaroos (cases 4, 5, 6, 11), #216 in 3 kangaroos (cases 8, 9, 10), #263 in 1 kangaroo (case 1) | [5] |
Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) | Hungary | 10 wallabies died of toxoplasmosis like illness; diagnosis was confirmed by IHC in 6 and histologically in 4 others | [14] |
Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) | USA | See text. Case 7, DNA extracted from heart tissue, genotype #216 | [5] |
Western brush wallaby (Macropus irma) | Turkey | Dead adult kangaroo was necropsied. Disseminated toxoplasmosis was diagnosed histologically and confirmed by IHC and PCR. Lesions included pancreatitis, gastritis, enteritis, and encephalitis | [15] |