Toxoplasmosis in wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus and Macropus eugenii): blindness, treatment with atovaquone, and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii.

Abstract

Australasian marsupials, especially wallabies, are highly susceptible to clinical toxoplasmosis. This paper describes the use of atovaquone for effective treatment of toxoplasmosis in 4 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), along with the serology, isolation of Toxoplasma gondii, and genotyping of 3 T. gondii isolates from 5 captive wallabies. This is the first report of success in treating acute toxoplasmosis in wallabies, the first report of serology followed over a significant period of time, and the first report of isolation and genetic typing of T. gondii from wallabies in the United States.

• Authors: J P Dubey, C Crutchley
• Journal: The Journal of parasitology (J Parasitol) Vol. 94 Issue 4 Pg. 929-33 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 0022-3395 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18576797 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Atovaquone

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Infective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Atovaquone (therapeutic use)
• Biological Assay (veterinary)
• Cats
• Female
• Macropodidae (parasitology)
• Male
• Mice
• Toxoplasma (isolation & purification)
• Toxoplasmosis, Animal (drug therapy, parasitology)
• Toxoplasmosis, Ocular (drug therapy, parasitology, veterinary)