Although Toxoplasma gondii infection has been found occasionally in cetaceans, little is known of the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild dolphins. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in serum samples from 58 dolphins stranded in the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Modified agglutination test was used to determine T. gondii antibodies, and a titer of 1:25 was considered indicative of T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 4 of 36 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), in 2 of 4 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), in 4 of 7 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and in 1 harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Antibodies were not found in 9 Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and in 1 long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) surveyed. The results indicate that T. gondii infection is frequent in at least 3 dolphin species from the Mediterranean Sea.
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June 2004
Research Article|
June 01 2004
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Wild Dolphins From the Spanish Mediterranean Coast
O. Cabezón;
O. Cabezón
aDepartament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Parasitologia i Malalties Parasitaries, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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A. R. Resendes;
A. R. Resendes
bDepartament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Histologia i Anatomia Patològica, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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M. Domingo;
M. Domingo
bDepartament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Histologia i Anatomia Patològica, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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J. A. Raga;
J. A. Raga
cDepartamento de Zoología e Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, P.O. Box 22085, E-46071 Valencia, Spain
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C. Agustí;
C. Agustí
cDepartamento de Zoología e Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, P.O. Box 22085, E-46071 Valencia, Spain
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F. Alegre;
F. Alegre
dCentre de Recuperació d' Animals Marins de Catalunya (CRAMC), 08330 Premià de Mar, Barcelona, Spain
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J. L. Mons;
J. L. Mons
eAula del Mar de Málaga, Avda. Manuel Agustín Heredia no. 35 29001 Málaga, Spain
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J. P. Dubey;
J. P. Dubey
fAnimal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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S. Almería
S. Almería
gTo whom correspondence should be addressed. sonia.almeria@uab.es
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J Parasitol (2004) 90 (3): 643–644.
Citation
O. Cabezón, A. R. Resendes, M. Domingo, J. A. Raga, C. Agustí, F. Alegre, J. L. Mons, J. P. Dubey, S. Almería; Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Wild Dolphins From the Spanish Mediterranean Coast. J Parasitol 1 June 2004; 90 (3): 643–644. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-257R
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