title: Prevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from white-tailed deer in Alabama.
abstract: Nineteen white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 5 counties in Alabama were examined for infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Twenty-gram samples of heart tissue were bioassayed in mice, serum was examined for T. gondii antibodies using the direct agglutination test, and sections of heart muscle were examined histologically for tissue cysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 4 of 19 (21%) white-tailed deer hearts. Antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:50 were found in sera from 7 of 16 (44%) white-tailed deer. Histological examinations of tissue sections from white-tailed deer hearts were negative for T. gondii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5519.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Blagburn
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001681:Biological Assay; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan