Toxoplasmosis in Distemper-Susceptible Carnivora

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is described in 18 carnivora of five different species: five dogs, four gray foxes, two raccoons, a skunk and six mink. In the raccoons and skunk the infection is reported for the first time, and in the mink for the first time in the United States. All the cases represented the acute disseminated form of toxoplasmosis, with focal necrosis of the lung, liver, and heart, and glial nodules of the central nervous system. A simultaneous distemper infection was present in three of the five dogs, in all four gray foxes, in both raccoons, and the skunk. It is believed that the distemper virus may provide the most important triggering mechanism necessary to initiate an acute toxoplasma infection or cause a flare-up of latent toxoplasmosis. In a 3-week-old puppy, and in the mink the toxoplasma infection was not associated with canine distemper.