Fatal toxoplasmosis in domestic rabbits in the USA.
Three rabbits from two sources died after an acute illness characterized by fever, lethargy and diarrhea in one rabbit and no clinical signs in two rabbits. The most striking lesion in all three rabbits was foci of necrosis of the spleen and liver associated with massive presence of multiplying Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific staining with anti-T. gondii serum in an avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical stain.
Dubey
J P
JP
Zoonotic Diseases Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350.
Brown
C A
CA
Carpenter
J L
JL
Moore
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008404:Massachusetts; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*