Case Report

Fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a zoological collection of meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Monica Burger, Elizabeth C. du Plessis, Essa Suleman, Brett R. Gardner
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 88 | a1428 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v88i0.1428 | © 2017 Monica Burger, Elizabeth C. du Plessis, Essa Suleman, Brett R. Gardner | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 05 May 2016 | Published: 31 March 2017

About the author(s)

Monica Burger, Panorama Veterinary Clinic and Specialist Centre, Panorama, South Africa
Elizabeth C. du Plessis, IDEXX Reference Laboratories, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Essa Suleman, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, South Africa
Brett R. Gardner, Department of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, United States

Abstract

Two confirmed cases of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis occurred in an urban zoological collection of meerkats (Suricata suricatta). Both cases are suspected to be the result of feral cats gaining access to the enclosure. Toxoplasmosis has rarely been documented in meerkats. Subsequent to prophylactic treatment of all the animals and structural changes being implemented within the enclosure, no new cases have been recorded to date. Very little information is available on the disease in viverrids.

Keywords

toxoplasmosis; meerkat; suricata suricatta; viverids

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2761
Total article views: 4738

 

Crossref Citations

1. Recent epidemiologic and clinical Toxoplasma gondii infections in wild canids and other carnivores: 2009–2020
Jitender P. Dubey, Fernando H.A. Murata, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cézar, Oliver C.H. Kwok
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 290  first page: 109337  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109337