Patton, S., Johnson, S. L., Loeffler, D. G., Wright, B. G., & Jensen, J. M. (1986). Epizootic of toxoplasmosis in kangaroos, wallabies, and potaroos: possible transmission via domestic cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 189(9), 1166-1169.
Between July 28 and August 6 1984, adult marsupials kept at the Knoxville Zoo, USA, including 5 Potorous tridactylus, 3 Wallabia eugenii, 3 Macropus giganteus and 2 M. rufus, became lethargic, developed respiratory distress and died. Acute interstitial pneumonia was seen at necropsy in all 13 animals and multifocal granulomatous necrotizing hepatitis in 10; intracellular and free T. gondii tachyzoites were seen in both organs. Parasites were also found in gastrointestinal lesions and in the cells of the muscular tunica. Foci of necrosis and inflammation were seen in other viscera. One animal had T. gondii tachyzoites in the eye. Of the 3 animals from which blood was collected, 2 adult kangaroos were positive in the IHAT for T. gondii antibodies. All 12 mice inoculated with solutions from infected organs died 2 to 14 days later and T. gondii were seen in their liver and lung tissue smears and in the ascitic fluid of 4 mice. 8 of 11 surviving marsupials were seropositive; 2 animals had increasing titres during the 8 weeks of the epizootic. Blood and faeces of exotic cats kept near the marsupials were also investigated; only one Asian lion was found seropositive. Faecal oocysts were not found. 2 of 8 cats trapped in the zoo, but none of the 4 oppossums, were seropositive. One of the seronegative cats was shedding oocysts at the time of capture.
Between July 28 and August 6 1984, adult marsupials kept at the Knoxville Zoo, USA, including 5 Potorous tridactylus, 3 Wallabia eugenii, 3 Macropus giganteus and 2 M. rufus, became lethargic, developed respiratory distress and died. Acute interstitial pneumonia was seen at necropsy in all 13 animals and multifocal granulomatous necrotizing hepatitis in 10; intracellular and free T. gondii tachyzoites were seen in both organs. Parasites were also found in gastrointestinal lesions and in the cells of the muscular tunica. Foci of necrosis and inflammation were seen in other viscera. One animal had T. gondii tachyzoites in the eye. Of the 3 animals from which blood was collected, 2 adult kangaroos were positive in the IHAT for T. gondii antibodies. All 12 mice inoculated with solutions from infected organs died 2 to 14 days later and T. gondii were seen in their liver and lung tissue smears and in the ascitic fluid of 4 mice. 8 of 11 surviving marsupials were seropositive; 2 animals had increasing titres during the 8 weeks of the epizootic. Blood and faeces of exotic cats kept near the marsupials were also investigated; only one Asian lion was found seropositive. Faecal oocysts were not found. 2 of 8 cats trapped in the zoo, but none of the 4 oppossums, were seropositive. One of the seronegative cats was shedding oocysts at the time of capture.
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