Congenital toxoplasmosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and identification of the Toxoplasma gondii types involved

J Wildl Dis. 2013 Oct;49(4):1019-23. doi: 10.7589/2013-01-024.

Abstract

Congenital toxoplasmosis has been little described in wild animals. We report a case of vertical transmission in wild boar (Sus scrofa). Necropsy and histopathologic examination of a pregnant female and her three fetuses revealed all to have lesions compatible with acute toxoplasmosis. Nested polymerase chain reaction B1 gene detected Toxoplasma gondii in maternal (heart and diaphragm) and fetal (central nervous system, retina, optic nerve, heart, lung, tongue, and diaphragm) samples. The mother had a mixed infection of T. gondii types I and III. One fetus with type III infection developed no malformations, but the others-one with type I infection and one infected by types I and III-showed bilateral ocular agenesis, prognathism, and agenesis of the nasal cartilage. These results suggest the pathogenicity of the various T. gondii types may differ in wild boars.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fetus / parasitology*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Sus scrofa / parasitology*
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasma / classification*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / congenital*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology