IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Dubey, J.P.; Pas, A.; Rajendran, C.; Kwok, O.C.H.; Ferreira, L.R.; Martins, J.; Hebel, C.; Hammer, S.; Su, C.
Toxoplasmosis in Sand cats_ (Felis margarita) _and other animals in the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in the United Arab Emirates and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, the State of Qatar
2010  Veterinary Parasitology (172): 195-203

The Sand cat (_Felis margarita_) is a small-sized felid found in sand and stone deserts ranging from the north of Africa to Asia, with the Arabian Peninsula as its centre of distribution. The Sand cat captive breeding program at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife (BCEAW), Sharjah, UAE, has experienced high newborn mortality rates, and congenital toxoplasmosis was recently recognized as one of the causes of this mortality. In the present study, one 18-month-old Sand cat (FM019) died of acute toxoplasmosis-associated hepatitis and pneumonitis acquired after birth; _Toxoplasma gondii_ was demonstrated in histological sections which reacted with _T. gondii_ polyclonal antibodies by immunohistochemistry (IHC). _T. gondii_ DNA was found by PCR of extracted DNA from liver and lung tissues of this cat. Antibodies to _T. gondii_ were found in serum examined in 1:1600 dilution in the modified agglutination test (MAT); its 2-year-old cage mate seroconverted (MAT titer 1:3200) at the same time. Another Sand cat (FM017) was euthanized because of ill health when 3 years old; its MAT titer was >1:3200, and _T. gondii_ tissue cysts were found in brain, heart, ocular muscles and skeletal muscle, confirmed by IHC. Viable _T. gondii_ was isolated by bioassays in mice inoculated with tissues of another chronically infected Sand cat (FM002); _T. gondii_ was not found in histological sections of this cat. _T. gondii_ antibodies were found in several species of animals tested, notably in 49 of 57 wild felids at BCEAW. A 7-year-old Sand cat (3657) from Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP), Doha, State of Qatar died of acute visceral toxoplasmosis with demonstrable T. gondii tachyzoites by IHC, and _T. gondii_ DNA by PCR, and a MAT titer of >3200. _T. gondii_ antibodies were found in 21 of 27 of wild felids at AWWP. PCR-RFLP genotyping at 10 genetic loci revealed that these _T. gondii_ isolates from Sand cat (FM002 and FM019) at BCEAW have an atypical genotype, which was previously reported in _T. gondii_ isolates of dogs from Sri Lanka. The genotype from the cat from AWWP(3657) is a genetic Type II strain with a Type I allele at locus Apico. This is the first report of genetic characterization of _T. gondii_ isolates from Middle East.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)