title: Fatal Disseminated Toxoplasma gondii Infection in a Captive Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).
abstract: A 7-year-old female harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), born and held in captivity, suffered from reduced consciousness, imprecise and circling swimming movements and long phases of immobility over a period of 3 weeks. The animal died during treatment in a Danish open sea facility. Pathological examination revealed multifocal pyogranulomatous to necrotizing meningoencephalomyelitis, ganglioneuritis, plexus chorioiditis, myocarditis, hepatitis and adrenalitis with few intralesional protozoal tachyzoites and bradyzoites within cysts. Immunohistochemistry was positive for Toxoplasma gondii antigen within the lesions. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of T. gondii-specific genome fragments was confirmed. A multilocus PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using nine unlinked marker regions (nSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) resulted in the identification of T. gondii type II (variant Apico Type I), which is the T. gondii genotype dominating in Germany. This is the first description of disseminated fatal toxoplasmosis in a captive harbour porpoise that lived in an open sea basin. Surface water contaminated with toxoplasma oocysts is regarded as the most likely source of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Herder
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, Büsum, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van de Velde
authors.affiliation: Fjord & Bælt, Margrethes Plads 1, Kerteminde, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Højer Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Dolfinarium Harderwijk, Strandboulevard Oost 1, Harderwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Elk
authors.affiliation: Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Westfalen, Zur Taubeneiche 10-12, Arnsberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kilwinski
authors.affiliation: Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schares
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, Büsum, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: peter.wohlsein@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlsein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050741:Phocoena / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; encephalitis; harbour porpoise; polymerase chain reaction