Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a prevalent disease among rabbits in many areas of the world. However, its clinical presentation is very uncommon. In South America, prevalence of toxoplasmosis in rabbits is unknown and clinical reports on this disease are scarce or inexistent. Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were found in four pet rabbits which were received at the XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX (Lima, Peru). These animals were received over about one year and belonged to different owners. The most common reasons for presentation were anorexia/hyporexia and difficulty to walk. The most frequently observed clinical sign was myalgia. All rabbits presented anemia, lymphopenia, and increased creatinine. The 75% (3/4) of patients died or were humanely euthanized. This article describes the presence of antibodies against T. gondii in clinically ill rabbits for the first time in Peru. Based on these observations, research on prevalence of toxoplasmosis in rabbits and its associated risk factors are recommended.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is among the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide; and it is considered an important opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients (Torrey and Yolken, 2003; Barakat, 2007; Dubey and Jones, 2008; Muñoz-Zanzi et al, 2010; Flegr et al, 2014)
Frequency of suspected clinical toxoplasmosis in rabbits received at our clinic during 2015 was 1,6% (CI95% 0,4 – 4,0%)
The only recovered rabbit was treated during 6 weeks, until clinical signs disappeared and antibodies against T. gondii were
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is among the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide (it is present in about 30 to 50% of world population); and it is considered an important opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients (Torrey and Yolken, 2003; Barakat, 2007; Dubey and Jones, 2008; Muñoz-Zanzi et al, 2010; Flegr et al, 2014). The etiologic agent is Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan first described in 1908 by Nicolle and Manceaux in USA and by Splendore in Brazil (Black and Boothroyd, 2000; Barakat, 2007; CenciGoga et al, 2011). This parasite infects the intestine of domestic and wild felids, which are its definitive host (Méndez et al, 2011). T. gondii has recently been detected in snakes, being the first record of natural infection by this parasite in reptiles (Nasiri et al, 2016)
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