Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild dolphins from the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
Although Toxoplasma gondii infection has been found occasionally in cetaceans, little is known of the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild dolphins. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in serum samples from 58 dolphins stranded in the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Modified agglutination test was used to determine T. gondii antibodies, and a titer of 1:25 was considered indicative of T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 4 of 36 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), in 2 of 4 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), in 4 of 7 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and in 1 harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Antibodies were not found in 9 Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and in 1 long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) surveyed. The results indicate that T. gondii infection is frequent in at least 3 dolphin species from the Mediterranean Sea.
Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Parasitologia i Malalties Parasitarias, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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O
Cabezón
A R
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Resendes
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Domingo
J A
JA
Raga
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C
Agustí
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F
Alegre
J L
JL
Mons
J P
JP
Dubey
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Almería
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000469:parasitology*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D019576:Porpoises / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan