Three 1- to 3-mo-old black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) died within 24 hr of showing central nervous signs such as ataxia. The birds were housed in a baby penguin crèche. At necropsy, peritonitis, pneumonia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and renomegaly were evident. Histologically, the liver, lung, brain, and small intestine contained numerous tachyzoites and a few cysts of Toxoplasma. Immunohistochemistry identified the protozoal parasites as Toxoplasma gondii. Ultrastructurally, this was confirmed by the presence of many tachyzoites of T. gondii in the liver and lungs.
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21 May 2011
Disseminated Toxoplasmosis in Black-Footed Penguins (Spheniscus demersus)
Margreet Ploeg,
Ton Ultee,
Marja Kik
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Avian Diseases
Vol. 55 • No. 4
December 2011
Vol. 55 • No. 4
December 2011