Dl. Obendorf et al., DETECTION OF AGGLUTINATING ANTIBODIES TO TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN SERA FROM FREE-RANGING EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOTS (PERAMELES GUNNII), Journal of wildlife diseases, 32(4), 1996, pp. 623-626
Sera from 150 eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) were collec
ted from two study sites in southern Tasmania between 1992 and 1995. S
amples were tested for antibodies to the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasm
a gondii, using formalin-treated tachyzoites as the antigen in direct
(DAT) and modified agglutination tests (MAT). Cut-off titers were set
based on confirmed cases of toxoplasmosis in this species. A total of
133 animals (89%) were classified as negative, seven (4.6%) had suspic
ious reactions, and 10 (6.7%) were diagnosed as positive. Five of the
10 positive animals were not retrapped after initial seroconversion; a
nother three animals recorded high MAT titers on two consecutive bleed
ings, three months apart. Of the remaining two seropositive bandicoots
, one was found dead in a trap and generalized toxoplasmosis was diagn
osed at necropsy, while the other animal had central nervous system di
sabilities consistent with toxoplasmosis but was accidently released a
nd never recaptured. Based on these findings we propose that eastern b
arred bandicoots are likely to be highly susceptible to primary T. gon
dii infection.