Cerebral toxoplasmosis in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy

Vet Pathol. 2010 Mar;47(2):245-53. doi: 10.1177/0300985809358036. Epub 2009 Dec 31.

Abstract

This article reports the results of necropsy, parasitologic, microbiologic, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, indirect immunofluorescence, biomolecular, and serologic investigations on 8 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded from August to December 2007 on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Severe, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was found in 4 animals, as characterized by prominent perivascular mononuclear cell cuffing and macrophage accumulations in neuropil. These lesions were associated with mild lymphocytic-plasmacytic infiltration of choroid plexuses in 1 dolphin. Toxoplasma gondii cysts and zoites, confirmed by immunohistochemical labeling, were scattered throughout the brain parenchyma of 2 of the 4 dolphins. No viral inclusions were seen in the brain of any animal. Other findings included severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary atelectasis, consolidation, and emphysema. Parasites were identified in a variety of organs, including lung (Halocerchus lagenorhynchi). Microbiologic and serologic examinations for Brucella spp were negative on all 8 dolphins. The 4 animals with meningoencephalitis had serum antibodies against T gondii (titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:320) but not against morbillivirus. In contrast, the other 4 dolphins were seropositive for morbillivirus (with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:40) but seronegative for T gondii. No morbillivirus antigen or nucleic acid was detected in the tissues of any dolphin. It is concluded that the severe lung and brain lesions were the cause of death and that T gondii was the likely etiologic agent of the cerebral lesions. Morbillivirus infection was not considered to have contributed to death of these animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / veterinary*
  • Dolphins / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Lung / parasitology
  • Male
  • Neutralization Tests / veterinary
  • RNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • RNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / genetics
  • Toxoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / parasitology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / veterinary*

Substances

  • RNA, Protozoan