Transplacental toxoplasmosis in a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) fetus.
Toxoplasma gondii infection was diagnosed in a full term stillborn reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) fetus. The fetus had encephalitis and placentitis associated with T. gondii. Tissue cysts were identified histologically in sections of brain and tachyzoites were present in placenta and the myocardium. Protozoa in the brain, heart, and placenta stained positively with T. gondii antibodies, but not with Neospora caninum antibodies in an immunohistochemical test. The dam of the fetus had a 1:12,800 titer to T. gondii in the modified agglutination test employing whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. This is the first confirmed report of T. gondii infection in reindeer.
Dubey
J P
JP
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Epidemiology and Systematics Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA. jdubey@anri.barc.usda.gov
Lewis
B
B
Beam
K
K
Abbitt
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012053:Reindeer / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan