EXPERIMENTAL TOXOPLASMA-GONDII INFECTION LEADING TO FATAL ENTERITIS IN REINDEER (RANGIFER TARANDUS)

Two, 50-60-kg yearling reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were inoculated in traruminally with 5,000 (reindeer 1) or 50,000 (reindeer 2) oocysts of the ME-49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Both reindeer became ill day 4 postinoculation (p.i.). Reindeer 2 died because of acute enteritis da y 9 p.i. Histologically, extensive necrosis and destruction of the int estinal mucosa were seen. Numerous T. gondii organisms were demonstrat ed immunohistochemically. Reindeer 1 was treated with sulfatrimethopri m for 2 days from day 9, recovered by day 16 p.i., and remained clinic ally normal until the last day of observation (day 707 p.i.). It devel oped high antibody titers to T. gondii between days 7 and 14 p.i.