Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii isolates in meningo-encephalitis affected striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Italy.
Abstract
This study reports the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in the brain of three striped dolphins (Stenella ceoruleoalba) found stranded on the Ligurian Sea coast of Italy between 2007 and 2008. These animals showed a severe, subacute to chronic, non-purulent, multifocal meningo-encephalitis, with the cerebral parenchyma of two dolphins harbouring protozoan cysts and zoites immunohistochemically linked to T. gondii. Molecular, phylogenetic and mutation scanning analyses showed the occurrence of Type II and of an atypical Type II T. gondii isolates in one and two dolphins, respectively. In spite of the different molecular patterns characterizing the above T. gondii genotypes, the brain lesions observed in the three animals showed common microscopic features, with no remarkable differences among them. The role of T. gondii in causing the meningo-encephalitis is herein discussed.
Anno di pubblicazione
2011
ISSN
0304-4017
ISBN
Non Disponibile
Numero di citazioni Wos
Nessuna citazione
Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni
Non Disponibile
Numero di citazioni Scopus
13
Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni
Non Disponibile
Settori ERC
Non Disponibile
Codici ASJC
Non Disponibile
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