Toxoplasmosis in dasyurid marsupials.
During a histopathologic survey of 240 dasyurid marsupials a high prevalence of infection of Toxoplasma gondii was found in eight of thenine species examined. Amongst the infected species, endemic infection in field animals was proved in Dasyuroides byrnei, but there was also good evidence of laboratory infection probably derived from raw sheep tissues in their diet. Infection was never demonstrated in animals less than six months of age. The 21 Antechinus stuartii examined remained free from infection despited a lengthy stay in the laboratory and a similar diet. This freedom from infection may indicate a particular resistance to Toxoplasma infection by this species.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008394:Marsupialia; D051379:Mice; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000469:parasitology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*