Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in raptors from France.
Little is known about the prevalence or importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in raptors. Sera from Eurasian Buzzards (Buteo buteo, n=14), Tawny Owls (Strix aluco, n=12), Barn Owls (Tyto alba, n=18), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus, n=1), and Common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus, n=8) were examined for agglutinating antibodies using the modified agglutination test at 1:25 dilution. Antibodies were not detected in Common Kestrels and the Eurasian Sparrowhawk but were detected in 11 Eurasian Buzzards (79%), six Tawny Owls (50%), and two Barn Owls (11%). Toxoplasma gondii, genotype II, was isolated from the brain of an adult Tawny Owl.
Aubert
Dominique
D
Laboratoire de Parasitologie, EA 3800, IFR53, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 45 rue Cognacq Jay, 51092 Reims Cedex, France. daubert@chu-reims.fr <daubert@chu-reims.fr>
Terrier
Marie-Eve
ME
Dumètre
Aurélien
A
Barrat
Jacques
J
Villena
Isabelle
I
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D046428:Hawks / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D020305:Strigiformes / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan