Toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging mink.
A free-ranging mink (Mustela vison), estimated to be 3 mo old, was found on the campus of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; it exhibited clinical signs of left hind limb lameness, ataxia, head tremors, and bilateral blindness. Histologically, the animal had a mild, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis and severe chorioretinitis with intralesional bradyzoites and tachyzoites. Protozoal organisms were identified as Toxoplasma gondii based on histology, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of clinical toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging mink.
Jones
Yava L
YL
Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Fitzgerald
Scott D
SD
Sikarske
James G
JG
Murphy
Alice
A
Grosjean
Nicole
N
Kiupel
Matti
M
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008907:Mink / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology