GENOTYPE IDENTIFICATION OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN MACROPODS FROM A ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN FLORIDA, USA

• DOI: 10.1638/2019-0093
• Publication Date: 2020-03-17T11:41:40Z
• Authors: Maria Spriggs; Tiantian Jiang; Richard Gerhold; Nancy Stedman; Natalia López-Orozco; Chunlei Su
• Keywords: Toxoplasmosis; Zoonosis; Macropus

There are limited reports of the genetic characterization Toxoplasma gondii infecting captive macropods in North America. A novel genotype, ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype 263, was reported from six wallabies at a zoological facility Virginia, USA, prompting an investigation into genotypes T. strains park Florida, USA. Cardiac muscle and/or lung samples agile wallaby (Macropus agilis, n = 1), red kangaroos rufus, 8), red-necked rufogriseus, and tammar eugenii, 1) that died between 2014 2018 were collected. All 11 cases confirmed to have systemic toxoplasmosis by histopathology immunohistochemical staining. Multilocus genotyping performed directly on tissue or parasites isolated myocardium mouse bioassay. Two identified as but no common source exposure could be identified. Five 2 (type III strain, haplogroup 3), four 216, which has been previously American wildlife. overt differences lesion severity distribution related genotype. These results suggest premise contaminated with least three causing macropods. The largest cluster fatal study period occurred following severe rainfall flooding exhibit, suggesting transmission water pointing out importance this mechanism. In summary, our revealed outbreaks caused significant loss within 5 yr Florida. More studies needed understand prevention sensitive zoo animals.