ARS | Publication request: PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN WOLVERINES FROM NUNAVUT, CANADA

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2007
Publication Date: June 30, 2008
Citation: Reichard, M.V., Torretti, L., Garvon, J.M., Dubey, J.P. 2008. Prevalence of antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in wolverines from Nunavut, Canada. Journal of Parasitology. 94:764-765.

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite of all warm-blooded hosts worldwide. It causes mental retardation and loss of vision in children, and abortion in livestock. Cats are the main reservoir of T. gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the resistant stage (oocyst) of the parasite in the feces. Humans become infected by eating undercooked meat from infected animals and food and water contaminated with oocysts. Toxoplasmosis causes mortality in many species of animals in the zoos, especially wallabies. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Oklahoma State Univ. report high prevalence of Toxoplasma antibody in wolverines from a rempte location in Canada, first time from this host.. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and veterinarians

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined in blood and tissue exudates recovered from the spleens of 41 wolverines (Gulo gulo) collected in Nunavut, Canada using a modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 17 (41.5%) of the 41 wolverines with MAT titers of 1:25 in 1, 1:50 in 4, 1:100 in 5 , 1:200 in 6 , and 1:400 in 1. This is the first report of antibodies to T. gondii in wolverines and the results indicate that exposure is common.