Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Dingoes Author(s): Alan M. Johnson, Peter Phillips, and David Jenkins Source: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 26(3):383-386. Published By: Wildlife Disease Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-26.3.383 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.7589/0090-3558-26.3.383
BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder.
BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.
of Wildlife
Journal
Prevalence Alan
of Toxoplasma
M. Johnson,’
Peter
Centre, Bedford Park, Box 112, Oueanbeyan,
ABSTRACT:
Serum
(Canis
dingo)
of southeastern
(10%)
test
antibodies
of
the
titers
these
recent
Key nis
‘Department South’East NSW
in
dingoes
in five Australia
Toxoplasma
2
areas were
gondii.
1gM,
Toxoplasma
familiaris
dingo,
agglutination
test,
parasite-specific
modified
direct
agglutination
test,
1gM.
Numerous
studies
prevalence
have
of T. gondii animal 1988).
termined
the
determined in human
populations Over 250
and
doand de-
gondii
in
dogs (Dubey, 1985). However, there apparently no surveys for toxoplasmosis the dingo (Canis familiaris dingo). We reported antibodies to T. gondii
prevalence
of
T.
are in
of Clinical Microbiology, and ACT Hydatid Control
in
dingoes
and the designated
the
(Dubey surveys have
All
number of in Figure
trapping
animals 1.
areas
were
above
ests interspersed erage annual mm (Bombala
in
mm
with rainfall State
Dunsmore, similarly
to
(Kosciusko
1983). reported
go
National
O’Donoghue a higher
antibody to T. gondii areas. Dingoes prey pials, predominantly
higher from and
this the
Because by the study was prevalence
et a!. (1987) prevalence of
were
of
and common.
to some extent (bushwalking
8 km. Dingoes
in sheep from cooler on Australian marsuwallabies such as M.
m in
Park),
for and
sheep
and
at least within and
Av10 25 all part din-
cattle
macropodids All areas
and were
recreational pig hunting).
activEs-
habitation consisting of and holiday cabins was areas, but within about employees
of
the regional Pasture Protection Boards shot. Approximate age of the dingoes determined by size of the animal and dentition. Immediately after shooting,
trapped
by
and was their 20
ml of blood was collected into plastic vials and allowed to clot at ambient temperature. The clot was detached from the inside of overnight
toxoplasmosis can be transingestion of cyst-laden flesh, undertaken of antibodies
range
tablished human farm homesteads outside the trapping
rufogriseus, although the remains of sheep, cattle, feral pigs (Sus scrofa), horses and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have been found in the stomachs of dingoes trapped in southeastern Australia (Newsome et a!., 1983). mitted
territorial
used ities
occurrence
be related to climate, being reported in animals moister areas (Jakob-Hoff
500
pine plantations. ranges from about Forest) to about
grazing country, feral pigs were
appears prevalence cooler,
are
country that is hilly with peaks ranging from 650 to 1,000 m. The areas are mostly thickly forested with native hardwood for-
1988). Antibodies to T. reported in many species wild animals (reviewed although
South
trapped
(Johnson et al., gondii have been of small Australian 1970),
1990
New
areas are covered by snow for of the winter. Most areas were
Munday,
383-386
Flinders Medical Campaign, P.O.
southeastern
18% of Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and 3% of Bennett’s wallabies (Macro pus rufogriseus rufogriseus)
in
pp.
Association
Shannons Flat (149#{176}01’S, 36#{176}08’E), Bombala (149#{176}28’S, 37#{176}10’E) Kosciusko National Park (148#{176}32’S, 35#{176}S0’E) and Wombeyan Caves (1S0#{176}12’S, 34#{176}20’E) primarily as part of a hydatid eradication campaign (Jenkins and Morris, 1990). These areas
of
Ca-
survey,
1990,
Dingoes were sampled in five areas, Bondo State Forest (149#{176}01’S, 36#{176}32’E),
sug-
dingo,
gondii,
serological
Disease
Wales.
Six
agglutination and four
26(3),
in Dingoes
Jenkins,2
exposure.
words:
mestic Beattie,
to
62
from
trapped Wales,
dingoes had direct T. gondii of 1:64, had T. gondii-specific
for
animals
gesting
South
New
for
and David
Australia 5042 Australia; South Wales 2620 Australia.
samples
familiaris
tested
Phillips,’
South New
Antibodies
gondil
Diseases,
© Wildlife
the at
remove free S ml aliquots
to determine to T. gondii
Sera 383
were
vial and allowed to contract 4 C. After centrifugation cells, and shipped
serum frozen
was collected at -20 C.
at -20
C to the
to in
Flin-
384
JOURNAL
OF WILDLIFE
DISEASES,
VOL. 26, NO. 3, JULY
1990
PBS
in the
MAT
was
taken
of parasite-specific
Area
Flat Area Area
1.
FGURE
Collection
areas
for
Australia.
The
number
Wales,
South
trapped
at
specific
localities
are
in
dingoes
(5)
(25)
New
(Johnson (Johnson
Medical
Australia)
Centre for
agglutination T. gondii-specific
(South
parentheses.
Australia
5042,
serological
testing
in a direct
test
which antibody
measures (Peloux
(DAT) total
M
1:32 NaCl,
acid, 0.4% in U-bottom Prod ucts,
to
1:512
in
BABS
buffer
and
(0.12
positive vious
In order
in the (Johnson
to destroy
DAT based et al., 1987, the
1gM
a
on pre1989).
fraction
of
the sera giving positive DAT titers, specimens were treated with either 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethano! (2-ME) or phosphatebuffered saline, pH 7.2 (PBS), at 37 C for 1 hr, and treated as described above for the DAT. The after treatment
difference in titers of a serum with
obtained 2-ME
two
Bondo nificantly
of formalin (BioMerieux, France) was dilution per were left at 22
control serum (BioMerieux). that a titer >1:64 indicates
result studies
a!.,
se-
dogs
or
and and
human others
for use with a range goats (Dubey et a!., et a!., 1985b), pigs
1986),
horses
(Dubey
and
1987), sheep (Dubey et cats (Dubey et al., 1987b) (Dubey, 1985). Although
fed
Overall, 10% body to T. gondii. (18%) was found
C for 18 hr, at which time the titers of the test sera were determined by comparison with the agglutination in a serial dilution of a positive We believe
et a!., 1989) a!., 1987)
are unaware of exact ificity and sensitivity for canid sera, Dubey correlation between test titres for two dogs
0.025 N NaOH, 0.05 M boric bovine serum albumin, pH 9.0) microtiter plates (Disposable Adelaide, South Australia).
Twenty-five tl of a suspension fixed T. gondii tachyzoites Charbonnieres les Bains, added to each 25 ! serum microtiter well. The plates
et
Desmonts, 1987a) and well as dogs
et al., 1973), and a modified agglutination test (MAT), which measures parasite-specific 1gM (Dubey et al., 1985a, b; Dubey and Desmonts, 1987; Johnson et al., 1989). For the DAT, sera were serially diluted from
et
have found it suitable of species including 198Sa), cattle (Dubey
animals
(Dubey ders
amount in the
the titer after treatment with 2-ME was a four-fold or greater dilution less than that of the same serum after treatment with PBS only. We have shown previously that this MAT technique is applicable to macropodid serum
(2)
in of
to be the present
rum (the greater the difference, the more 1gM was present). Positive responses in the MAT were considered to be those where
N
Caves
1gM
figures of the (1985) MAT fed T.
a!., as we
for the specDAT or MAT reported good titres and dye gondii oocysts
T. gondii
cysts.
of
the dingoes had antiThe highest prevalence in dingoes trapped in the
State Forest, different
but from
this that
was found
not sigin din-
goes trapped in the Shannons Flat area (0.5
BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder.
BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.
of Wildlife
Journal
Prevalence Alan
of Toxoplasma
M. Johnson,’
Peter
Centre, Bedford Park, Box 112, Oueanbeyan,
ABSTRACT:
Serum
(Canis
dingo)
of southeastern
(10%)
test
antibodies
of
the
titers
these
recent
Key nis
‘Department South’East NSW
in
dingoes
in five Australia
Toxoplasma
2
areas were
gondii.
1gM,
Toxoplasma
familiaris
dingo,
agglutination
test,
parasite-specific
modified
direct
agglutination
test,
1gM.
Numerous
studies
prevalence
have
of T. gondii animal 1988).
termined
the
determined in human
populations Over 250
and
doand de-
gondii
in
dogs (Dubey, 1985). However, there apparently no surveys for toxoplasmosis the dingo (Canis familiaris dingo). We reported antibodies to T. gondii
prevalence
of
T.
are in
of Clinical Microbiology, and ACT Hydatid Control
in
dingoes
and the designated
the
(Dubey surveys have
All
number of in Figure
trapping
animals 1.
areas
were
above
ests interspersed erage annual mm (Bombala
in
mm
with rainfall State
Dunsmore, similarly
to
(Kosciusko
1983). reported
go
National
O’Donoghue a higher
antibody to T. gondii areas. Dingoes prey pials, predominantly
higher from and
this the
Because by the study was prevalence
et a!. (1987) prevalence of
were
of
and common.
to some extent (bushwalking
8 km. Dingoes
in sheep from cooler on Australian marsuwallabies such as M.
m in
Park),
for and
sheep
and
at least within and
Av10 25 all part din-
cattle
macropodids All areas
and were
recreational pig hunting).
activEs-
habitation consisting of and holiday cabins was areas, but within about employees
of
the regional Pasture Protection Boards shot. Approximate age of the dingoes determined by size of the animal and dentition. Immediately after shooting,
trapped
by
and was their 20
ml of blood was collected into plastic vials and allowed to clot at ambient temperature. The clot was detached from the inside of overnight
toxoplasmosis can be transingestion of cyst-laden flesh, undertaken of antibodies
range
tablished human farm homesteads outside the trapping
rufogriseus, although the remains of sheep, cattle, feral pigs (Sus scrofa), horses and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have been found in the stomachs of dingoes trapped in southeastern Australia (Newsome et a!., 1983). mitted
territorial
used ities
occurrence
be related to climate, being reported in animals moister areas (Jakob-Hoff
500
pine plantations. ranges from about Forest) to about
grazing country, feral pigs were
appears prevalence cooler,
are
country that is hilly with peaks ranging from 650 to 1,000 m. The areas are mostly thickly forested with native hardwood for-
1988). Antibodies to T. reported in many species wild animals (reviewed although
South
trapped
(Johnson et al., gondii have been of small Australian 1970),
1990
New
areas are covered by snow for of the winter. Most areas were
Munday,
383-386
Flinders Medical Campaign, P.O.
southeastern
18% of Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and 3% of Bennett’s wallabies (Macro pus rufogriseus rufogriseus)
in
pp.
Association
Shannons Flat (149#{176}01’S, 36#{176}08’E), Bombala (149#{176}28’S, 37#{176}10’E) Kosciusko National Park (148#{176}32’S, 35#{176}S0’E) and Wombeyan Caves (1S0#{176}12’S, 34#{176}20’E) primarily as part of a hydatid eradication campaign (Jenkins and Morris, 1990). These areas
of
Ca-
survey,
1990,
Dingoes were sampled in five areas, Bondo State Forest (149#{176}01’S, 36#{176}32’E),
sug-
dingo,
gondii,
serological
Disease
Wales.
Six
agglutination and four
26(3),
in Dingoes
Jenkins,2
exposure.
words:
mestic Beattie,
to
62
from
trapped Wales,
dingoes had direct T. gondii of 1:64, had T. gondii-specific
for
animals
gesting
South
New
for
and David
Australia 5042 Australia; South Wales 2620 Australia.
samples
familiaris
tested
Phillips,’
South New
Antibodies
gondil
Diseases,
© Wildlife
the at
remove free S ml aliquots
to determine to T. gondii
Sera 383
were
vial and allowed to contract 4 C. After centrifugation cells, and shipped
serum frozen
was collected at -20 C.
at -20
C to the
to in
Flin-
384
JOURNAL
OF WILDLIFE
DISEASES,
VOL. 26, NO. 3, JULY
1990
PBS
in the
MAT
was
taken
of parasite-specific
Area
Flat Area Area
1.
FGURE
Collection
areas
for
Australia.
The
number
Wales,
South
trapped
at
specific
localities
are
in
dingoes
(5)
(25)
New
(Johnson (Johnson
Medical
Australia)
Centre for
agglutination T. gondii-specific
(South
parentheses.
Australia
5042,
serological
testing
in a direct
test
which antibody
measures (Peloux
(DAT) total
M
1:32 NaCl,
acid, 0.4% in U-bottom Prod ucts,
to
1:512
in
BABS
buffer
and
(0.12
positive vious
In order
in the (Johnson
to destroy
DAT based et al., 1987, the
1gM
a
on pre1989).
fraction
of
the sera giving positive DAT titers, specimens were treated with either 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethano! (2-ME) or phosphatebuffered saline, pH 7.2 (PBS), at 37 C for 1 hr, and treated as described above for the DAT. The after treatment
difference in titers of a serum with
obtained 2-ME
two
Bondo nificantly
of formalin (BioMerieux, France) was dilution per were left at 22
control serum (BioMerieux). that a titer >1:64 indicates
result studies
a!.,
se-
dogs
or
and and
human others
for use with a range goats (Dubey et a!., et a!., 1985b), pigs
1986),
horses
(Dubey
and
1987), sheep (Dubey et cats (Dubey et al., 1987b) (Dubey, 1985). Although
fed
Overall, 10% body to T. gondii. (18%) was found
C for 18 hr, at which time the titers of the test sera were determined by comparison with the agglutination in a serial dilution of a positive We believe
et a!., 1989) a!., 1987)
are unaware of exact ificity and sensitivity for canid sera, Dubey correlation between test titres for two dogs
0.025 N NaOH, 0.05 M boric bovine serum albumin, pH 9.0) microtiter plates (Disposable Adelaide, South Australia).
Twenty-five tl of a suspension fixed T. gondii tachyzoites Charbonnieres les Bains, added to each 25 ! serum microtiter well. The plates
et
Desmonts, 1987a) and well as dogs
et al., 1973), and a modified agglutination test (MAT), which measures parasite-specific 1gM (Dubey et al., 1985a, b; Dubey and Desmonts, 1987; Johnson et al., 1989). For the DAT, sera were serially diluted from
et
have found it suitable of species including 198Sa), cattle (Dubey
animals
(Dubey ders
amount in the
the titer after treatment with 2-ME was a four-fold or greater dilution less than that of the same serum after treatment with PBS only. We have shown previously that this MAT technique is applicable to macropodid serum
(2)
in of
to be the present
rum (the greater the difference, the more 1gM was present). Positive responses in the MAT were considered to be those where
N
Caves
1gM
figures of the (1985) MAT fed T.
a!., as we
for the specDAT or MAT reported good titres and dye gondii oocysts
T. gondii
cysts.
of
the dingoes had antiThe highest prevalence in dingoes trapped in the
State Forest, different
but from
this that
was found
not sigin din-
goes trapped in the Shannons Flat area (0.5
