6533b85ffe1ef96bd12c256a
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild dolphins from the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
Ferran AlegreOscar CabezónC. AgustíJitender P. DubeyJ. A. RagaMariano DomingoJ. L. MonsA. R. ResendesSonia Almeríasubject
DolphinsZoologyAntibodies ProtozoanPhocoenaAnimals WildStenella coeruleoalbaDelphinus delphisPorpoisesPilot whaleSeroepidemiologic Studiesbiology.animalAgglutination Testsparasitic diseasesMediterranean SeaSeroprevalenceAnimalsGrampus griseusEcology Evolution Behavior and SystematicsbiologyEcologyToxoplasma gondiibiology.organism_classificationToxoplasmosis AnimalSpainParasitologyhuman activitiesToxoplasmaPorpoisedescription
Although Toxoplasma gondii infection has been found occasionally in cetaceans, little is known of the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild dolphins. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in serum samples from 58 dolphins stranded in the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Modified agglutination test was used to determine T. gondii antibodies, and a titer of 1:25 was considered indicative of T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 4 of 36 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), in 2 of 4 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), in 4 of 7 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and in 1 harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Antibodies were not found in 9 Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) and in 1 long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) surveyed. The results indicate that T. gondii infection is frequent in at least 3 dolphin species from the Mediterranean Sea.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-01 |