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Title: SYSTEMIC INFECTION WITH AN UNIDENTIFIED TOXOPLASMA-LIKE PROTOZOAN IN A NEONATAL LICHTENSTEIN'S HARTEBEEST (SIGMOCEROS LICHTENSTEINII)

Author
item JARDINE, J - UN OF PRETORIA, S AFRICA
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and some species of Sarcocystis are the main coccidian parasites (single celled) that cause congenital infection in animals. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the University of Pretoria, South Africa report for the first time fatal protozoan infection in 2-day-old hartebeest (Sigmoceros lictensteinii). This parasite was different from Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis and Neospora. The lesions described and the characteristics of the parasite described will be useful to veterinarians and zoo workers.

Technical Abstract: An unidentified Toxoplasma gondii-like disseminated infection was found in tissues of a 2-day old hartebeest (Sigmoceros lichtensteinii). Protozoal tachyzoites were about 3.5 x 1.7 um, had electron-dense rhoptries, and divided by endodyogeny. The organism did not stain with polyclonal antibodies to T. gondii. Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis cruzi.