JVDI Advertisement
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation Vol. 19 Issue 2, 191-194
Copyright © 2007 by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Harrison, T. M.
Right arrow Articles by Fitzgerald, S. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Harrison, T. M.
Right arrow Articles by Fitzgerald, S. D.

Brief Communications

Toxoplasma gondii in an African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

Tara M. Harrison1, Jamee Black Moorman, Steven R. Bolin, Nicole L. Grosjean, Ailam Lim and Scott D. Fitzgerald

Correspondence: 1Corresponding Author: Tara M Harrison, Potter Park Zoo, 1301 South Pennsylvania, Lansing, MI 48912-1646

An adult female crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) was evaluated for acute onset of neurologic signs including head tilt, circling, and ataxia. She was found dead in her holding area 2 days after initially exhibiting clinical signs. Necropsy was unremarkable. Histopathology of brain tissue revealed the presence of protozoal cysts associated with inflammation as the underlying cause of clinical signs and death. Immunohistochemical staining of brain tissue for Toxoplasma gondii was strongly positive. PCR on fresh brain confirmed T. gondii as the causative organism. An adult male in the same enclosure has demonstrated similar neurologic signs over the past 3 years and has failed to respond to various medical treatments. Clinical disease associated with T. gondii has not been previously reported in this porcupine species or any other Old World porcupines, although there are several reports of clinical toxoplasmosis involving New World porcupine species.

Key Words: Crested porcupine • encephalitis • Hystrix cristata • protozoa • Toxoplasma gondii




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 jvdiHome page
R. Barigye, E. Schamber, T. K. Newell, and N. W. Dyer
Hepatic lipidosis and other test findings in two captive adult porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) dying from a "sudden death syndrome"
J Vet Diagn Invest, November 1, 2007; 19(6): 712 - 716.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2007 by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc.