title: Congenital toxoplasmosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and identification of the Toxoplasma gondii types involved.
abstract: Congenital toxoplasmosis has been little described in wild animals. We report a case of vertical transmission in wild boar (Sus scrofa). Necropsy and histopathologic examination of a pregnant female and her three fetuses revealed all to have lesions compatible with acute toxoplasmosis. Nested polymerase chain reaction B1 gene detected Toxoplasma gondii in maternal (heart and diaphragm) and fetal (central nervous system, retina, optic nerve, heart, lung, tongue, and diaphragm) samples. The mother had a mixed infection of T. gondii types I and III. One fetus with type III infection developed no malformations, but the others-one with type I infection and one infected by types I and III-showed bilateral ocular agenesis, prognathism, and agenesis of the nasal cartilage. These results suggest the pathogenicity of the various T. gondii types may differ in wild boars.
authors: 1  Parasitology Section, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Calero-Bernal
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Gómez-Gordo
authors: José María
authors: JM
authors: Saugar
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Frontera
authors: Juan Enrique
authors: JE
authors: Pérez-Martín
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Reina
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Serrano
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000469:parasitology*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000151:congenital* / Q000469:parasitology