A 5-mo-old orphan beaver, Castor canadensis, died of severe systemic toxoplasmosis during rehabilitation. Histologic lesions included lymphohistiocytic encephalitis, myocarditis, and interstitial pneumonia with multinucleated cells. Intracytoplasmic cysts containing tachyzoites and bradyzoites identified as Toxoplasma gondii by immunohistochemistry were present in macrophages, type-II pneumocytes, and endothelial cells. Immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal morbillivirus antibody and transmission electron microscopy of lung revealed no evidence of concurrent paramyxoviral infection, as commonly found in carnivores with toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may affect young beavers in rehabilitation and zoological settings.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 March 2004
SYSTEMIC TOXOPLASMOSIS IN A FIVE-MONTH-OLD BEAVER, (CASTOR CANADENSIS)
María J. Forzán,
Salvatore Frasca
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 35 • No. 1
March 2004
Vol. 35 • No. 1
March 2004
beaver
Castor canadensis
encephalitis
myocarditis
pneumonia
Toxoplasma gondii