CAPRINE TOXOPLASMOSIS - ABORTION, CLINICAL SIGNS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF TOXOPLASMA IN TISSUES OF GOATS FED TOXOPLASMA-GONDII OOCYSTS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (7) , 1072-1076
Abstract
Goats (9 does and 4 bucks) were inoculated orally with 10,000 infective T. gondii oocysts. Does (3) and 1 buck were used as noninoculated controls. In 2-4 days after inoculation (DAI), inoculated goats became dull, pyrectic (40-41.degree. C) and anorectic. Goats (3) died (10, 10 and 14 DAI) and 2 goats were killed (7 and 32 DAI) because they were moribund; 3 does aborted, 2 had weak kids and 2 had dead fetuses. Toxoplasma was isolated from the placenta of 3 goats and the fetal tissues of 4 goats. The control goats remained asymptomatic. The distribution of T. gondii in blood and other tissues was studied by inoculation of mice with caprine tissues. Parasitemia was detected in 7 of 7 goats, beginning 4 DAI in 1 goat, 5 DAI in 5 goats and 8 DAI in 1 goat. The parasitemia lasted 3-10 days. Toxoplasma was isolated from the milk of 2 goats at 12-14 DAI. Toxoplasma was isolated from 15 or more tissues of 5 goats killed 7-35 DAI and from 10 tissues of 2 goats killed 69 and 95 DAI.