Toxoplasma gondiicoinfection with diseases and parasites in wild rabbits in Scotland

Abstract

SUMMARYIn wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on an estate in Perthshire, central Scotland, the seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiwas 18/548 (3·3%). The wild rabbit could be aT. gondiireservoir and it has potential value as a sentinel ofT. gondiiin environmental substrates.Toxoplasma gondiiwas associated with female sex (P< 0·001) and with relatively heavy infections byEimeria stiedae(P= 0·036). It was not associated with the intensity of coccidial oocysts, the severity of myxomatosis caused by the virusMyxomatosis cuniculi, the intensity of roundworm eggs, the year or season, rabbit age or distance from farm buildings. Coinfections could have been affected by gestational down regulation of type 1 T helper cells. A sudden influx or release ofT. gondiioocysts might have occurred. This is the first report ofT. gondiiin any wild herbivore in Scotland and also the first report of lapineT. gondiias a coinfection withE. stiedae, M. cuniculiand helminths.