Gastric and Caecal Amoebiasis in a Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) with Disseminated Toxoplasmosis.

Abstract

A 1-year-old male red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) with an acute clinical history of lethargy, depression and increased respiratory rate was presented for necropsy examination. Gross lesions in the digestive tract were a distended stomach with watery content and multifocal raised ulcers covered by fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomach and caecum. On histopathology, there was necrotizing and ulcerative gastritis and typhlitis with intralesional amoebic trophozoites and Toxoplasma gondii zoites. Lesions due to T. gondii infection were observed in multiple organs and diagnosis was confirmed by fluorescent antibody test and immunohistochemistry. Both toxoplasmosis and gastric amoebiasis are diseases described in macropods. In this case report, we describe concurrent disease caused by both protozoa in a red kangaroo. Lesions of amoebiasis were also observed in the caecum. Both toxoplasmosis and amoebiasis should be considered as differential diagnoses of ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tract in macropods during necropsy examination. Amoebiasis should be suspected especially when ulcerative lesions are observed in the forestomach.