title: Toxoplasma gondii coinfection with diseases and parasites in wild rabbits in Scotland.
abstract: In wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on an estate in Perthshire, central Scotland, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was 18/548 (3·3%). The wild rabbit could be a T. gondii reservoir and it has potential value as a sentinel of T. gondii in environmental substrates. Toxoplasma gondii was associated with female sex (P < 0·001) and with relatively heavy infections by Eimeria stiedae (P = 0·036). It was not associated with the intensity of coccidial oocysts, the severity of myxomatosis caused by the virus Myxomatosis cuniculi, the intensity of roundworm eggs, the year or season, rabbit age or distance from farm buildings. Coinfections could have been affected by gestational down regulation of type 1 T helper cells. A sudden influx or release of T. gondii oocysts might have occurred. This is the first report of T. gondii in any wild herbivore in Scotland and also the first report of lapine T. gondii as a coinfection with E. stiedae, M. cuniculi and helminths.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology,Miall Building,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Research Service,Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory,Building 1001,BARC-East,Beltsville,Maryland 20705-2350,USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Life Sciences,Peel Building,University of Salford,Salford M5 4WT,UK.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: James Hutton Institute,Invergowrie,Dundee DD2 5DA,UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D060085:Coinfection; D004539:Eimeria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000150:complications; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009234:Myxomatosis, Infectious / Q000150:complications; D033661:Oocysts; D011817:Rabbits / Q000469:parasitology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Eimeria stiedae; Toxoplasma gondii; coinfection; rabbit