During 2005–2006, sera and tissues from raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from the state of Wisconsin were tested for Toxoplasma gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 32 of 54 (59.2%) raccoons, 18 of 35 (51.4%) coyotes, and 5 of 7 (71.4%) skunks using the modified agglutination test and a cut-off titer of 1:20. Pooled tissues (brains, hearts, and tongues) from 30 raccoons, 15 coyotes, and 1 skunk were bioassayed for T. gondii infection in mice or cats. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 5 of 30 (16.7%) raccoons, 6 of 15 (40.0%) coyotes, and the skunk. Genetic characterization of the 12 parasite isolates by multilocus PCR-RFLP markers revealed 6 different genotypes including 5 atypical and 1 archetypal II lineages. The results indicate the prevalence of T. gondii in wildlife mammals is high and that these animals may serve as an important reservoir for transmission of T. gondii.
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December 2007
RESEARCH NOTES|
December 01 2007
Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Raccoons (Procyon lotor), Coyotes (Canis latrans), and Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Wisconsin Identified Several Atypical Genotypes
J. P. Dubey;
J. P. Dubey
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
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N. Sundar;
N. Sundar
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
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C. A. Nolden;
C. A. Nolden
*Department of Wildlife Ecology, 1630 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706;
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M. D. Samuel;
M. D. Samuel
†U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, 1630 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706;
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G. V. Velmurugan;
G. V. Velmurugan
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
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L. A. Bandini;
L. A. Bandini
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
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O. C H. Kwok;
O. C H. Kwok
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705;
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B. Bodenstein;
B. Bodenstein
‡U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Plant Inspection Service, 732 Lois Drive, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590;
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C. Su
C. Su
§Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996. [email protected]
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J Parasitol (2007) 93 (6): 1524–1527.
Citation
J. P. Dubey, N. Sundar, C. A. Nolden, M. D. Samuel, G. V. Velmurugan, L. A. Bandini, O. C H. Kwok, B. Bodenstein, C. Su; Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Raccoons (Procyon lotor), Coyotes (Canis latrans), and Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Wisconsin Identified Several Atypical Genotypes. J Parasitol 1 December 2007; 93 (6): 1524–1527. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-1245.1
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