Debilitation and mortality associated with besnoitiosis in four Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana).
Besnoitia spp. are coccidian parasites that infect a variety of wild and domestic mammals as well as some reptiles. Although infection with Besnoitia is common in Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), clinical signs or death due to Besnoitia is rare. This manuscript describes four Virginia opossums that had severe clinical disease and inflammation associated with besnoitiosis. Clinical signs included trembling, incoordination, circling, blindness, poor body condition, and sudden death. Gross lesions included parasitic cysts in eyes, skin, and visceral organs. Histologically, cysts were often degenerate and associated with mild to marked inflammation, and amyloidosis was noted in one animal. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing confirmed Besnoitia darlingi in three of the four opossums.
Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. aellis@uga.edu
Angela E
AE
Ellis
Elizabeth
E
Mackey
Philip A
PA
Moore
Stephen J
SJ
Divers
Patrick
P
Hensel
K Paige
KP
Carmichael
Peter
P
Accola
Justin
J
Brown
Nicole
N
Gottdenker
M Kevin
MK
Keel
Barbara C
BC
Shock
Michael J
MJ
Yabsley
D000818:Animals; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048293:Didelphis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D021745:Sarcocystidae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; C434984:TIRAP protein, human