The rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection was surveyed in 8 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and 6 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruloalba) stranded along the coast of Tuscany. Specimens of brain (n=13), liver (n=8), muscle (n=2), and whole blood (n=4) were examined by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the B1 gene of T gondii in different tissues (n=10) or by a modified agglutination test in combination with nested PCR (n=4). Overall, Toxoplasma infection was detected in 13 of 14 (93%) dolphins (in 10 by nested-PCR, in 2 by MAT, and in 1 by both). These results suggest that the level of T gondii infection among dolphins in the marine area of Tuscany is high.
Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in dolphins stranded along the Tuscan coast, Italy
PRETTI, CARLO;MANCIANTI, FRANCESCA;NARDONI, SIMONA;MONNI, GIANFRANCA;PAPINI, ROBERTO AMERIGO
2010-01-01
Abstract
The rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection was surveyed in 8 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and 6 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruloalba) stranded along the coast of Tuscany. Specimens of brain (n=13), liver (n=8), muscle (n=2), and whole blood (n=4) were examined by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the B1 gene of T gondii in different tissues (n=10) or by a modified agglutination test in combination with nested PCR (n=4). Overall, Toxoplasma infection was detected in 13 of 14 (93%) dolphins (in 10 by nested-PCR, in 2 by MAT, and in 1 by both). These results suggest that the level of T gondii infection among dolphins in the marine area of Tuscany is high.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
