Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Toxoplasma found in young dog's brain in Australia - what it means
By Al-Qassab, Sarwat et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2009·Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from the brain of a dog in Australia and its biological and molecular characterization.
Plain-English summary
A young dog in Australia was found to have Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause serious health issues. Tests confirmed the presence of the parasite in the dog's brain, indicating it was likely passed from the mother during pregnancy. This case is significant as it represents the first known instance of congenital transmission of T. gondii in dogs. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring for this parasite, especially in pregnant dogs, to prevent potential health risks to their puppies.
People also search for: dog brain infection Toxoplasma · puppy health issues from mother · congenital Toxoplasma in dogs
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from the brain of a young dog for the first time in Australia. The identity of the parasite was confirmed by PCR, Western blotting, electron microscopy and cat bioassay. Genotyping of the isolate (TgDgAu1) was determined by PCR-RFLP markers that showed it to be a Type II strain. Western blotting demonstrated the presence of IgM antibodies to T. gondii suggesting the bitch was probably infected during pregnancy and the T. gondii was transmitted to the pups congenitally. We believe this represents the first description of a natural case of congenital transmission of T. gondii in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19556061/