Fatal toxoplasmosis and concurrent Calodium hepaticum infection in Korean squirrels (Tanias sibericus)

Vet Parasitol. 2006 Apr 15;137(1-2):180-3. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.11.026. Epub 2006 Jan 6.

Abstract

Four Korean squirrels (Tanias siberius) imported in Spain from People's Republic of China died 2 days after their arrival at a pet shop. They had neurological signs associated with generalized toxoplasmosis involving brain, lungs, liver, and the heart. Toxoplasma gondii-like tachyzoites and tissue cysts were found in organs of all four squirrels. The protozoa stained positively with T. gondii polyclonal antibodies and were ultrastructurally similar to T. gondii. Calodium (Capillaria) hepaticum infection was found in the liver of one squirrel.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Capillaria / immunology
  • Capillaria / ultrastructure
  • Enoplida Infections / complications*
  • Enoplida Infections / epidemiology
  • Enoplida Infections / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
  • Korea
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / parasitology
  • Rodent Diseases / pathology
  • Sciuridae / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasma / ultrastructure
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / complications*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan