Fatal toxoplasmosis in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).
Toxoplasma gondii-like organisms were seen in the heart, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, spleen, small intestine, and stomach from 2 koalas that died suddenly in a fauna park in Sydney, Australia. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. This is the first confirmed report of toxoplasmosis in an arboreal marsupial.
Hartley
W J
WJ
Tarongo Zoo, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia.
Dubey
J P
JP
Spielman
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology