This article reports the results of necropsy, parasitologic, microbiologic, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, indirectimmunofluorescence, biomolecular, and serologic investigations on 8 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found strandedfrom August to December 2007 on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Severe, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was found in 4 animals, as characterized by prominent perivascular mononuclear cell cuffing and macrophage accumulations in neuropil.These lesions were associated with mild lymphocytic–plasmacytic infiltration of choroid plexuses in 1 dolphin. Toxoplasmagondii cysts and zoites, confirmed by immunohistochemical labeling, were scattered throughout the brain parenchyma of 2 ofthe 4 dolphins. No viral inclusions were seen in the brain of any animal. Other findings included severe bronchointerstitialpneumonia and pulmonary atelectasis, consolidation, and emphysema. Parasites were identified in a variety of organs, including lung (Halocerchus lagenorhynchi). Microbiologic and serologic examinations for Brucella spp were negative on all 8 dolphins. The 4 animals with meningoencephalitis had serum antibodies against T gondii (titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:320) but not againstmorbillivirus. In contrast, the other 4 dolphins were seropositive for morbillivirus (with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:40) butseronegative for T gondii. No morbillivirus antigen or nucleic acid was detected in the tissues of any dolphin. It is concluded that the severe lung and brain lesions were the cause of death and that T gondii was the likely etiologic agent of the cerebral lesions. Morbillivirus infection was not considered to have contributed to death of these animals.[...]

Cerebral toxoplasmosis in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy.

DI GUARDO, Giovanni;DI FRANCESCO, Cristina Esmeralda;MARSILIO, Fulvio;
2010-01-01

Abstract

This article reports the results of necropsy, parasitologic, microbiologic, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, indirectimmunofluorescence, biomolecular, and serologic investigations on 8 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found strandedfrom August to December 2007 on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy. Severe, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis was found in 4 animals, as characterized by prominent perivascular mononuclear cell cuffing and macrophage accumulations in neuropil.These lesions were associated with mild lymphocytic–plasmacytic infiltration of choroid plexuses in 1 dolphin. Toxoplasmagondii cysts and zoites, confirmed by immunohistochemical labeling, were scattered throughout the brain parenchyma of 2 ofthe 4 dolphins. No viral inclusions were seen in the brain of any animal. Other findings included severe bronchointerstitialpneumonia and pulmonary atelectasis, consolidation, and emphysema. Parasites were identified in a variety of organs, including lung (Halocerchus lagenorhynchi). Microbiologic and serologic examinations for Brucella spp were negative on all 8 dolphins. The 4 animals with meningoencephalitis had serum antibodies against T gondii (titers ranging from 1:80 to 1:320) but not againstmorbillivirus. In contrast, the other 4 dolphins were seropositive for morbillivirus (with titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:40) butseronegative for T gondii. No morbillivirus antigen or nucleic acid was detected in the tissues of any dolphin. It is concluded that the severe lung and brain lesions were the cause of death and that T gondii was the likely etiologic agent of the cerebral lesions. Morbillivirus infection was not considered to have contributed to death of these animals.[...]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11575/14250
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