Dual congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona in a late-term aborted pup from a chronically infected southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis).
Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona are protozoan parasites with terrestrial definitive hosts, and both pathogens can cause fatal disease in a wide range of marine animals. Close monitoring of threatened southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in California allowed for the diagnosis of dual transplacental transmission of T. gondii and S. neurona in a wild female otter that was chronically infected with both parasites. Congenital infection resulted in late-term abortion due to disseminated toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii and S. neurona DNA was amplified from placental tissue culture, as well as from fetal lung tissue. Molecular characterization of T. gondii revealed a Type X genotype in isolates derived from placenta and fetal brain, as well as in all tested fetal organs (brain, lung, spleen, liver and thymus). This report provides the first evidence for transplacental transmission of T. gondii in a chronically infected wild sea otter, and the first molecular and immunohistochemical confirmation of concurrent transplacental transmission of T. gondii and S. neurona in any species. Repeated fetal and/or neonatal losses in the sea otter dam also suggested that T. gondii has the potential to reduce fecundity in chronically infected marine mammals through parasite recrudescence and repeated fetal infection.
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Karen
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2678-3851
K
Shapiro
One Health Institute,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Melissa A
MA
Miller
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Andrea E
AE
Packham
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Beatriz
B
Aguilar
Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology,School of Veterinary Medicine,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Patricia A
PA
Conrad
One Health Institute,University of California Davis,One Shields Ave,Davis California 95616,USA.
Elizabeth
E
Vanwormer
Monterey Bay Aquarium,886 Cannery Row,Monterey California 93940,USA.
Michael J
MJ
Murray
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002140:California; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D010041:Otters / Q000469:parasitology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
Sarcocystis neurona; Toxoplasma gondii; abortion; congenital transmission; sea otter; transmammary transmission