Biological and molecular characterizations of Toxoplasma gondii strains obtained from southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)

Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from brain or heart tissue from 15 southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) in cell cultures. These strains were use d to infect mice that developed antibodies to T. gondii as detected in the modified direct agglutination test and had T. gondii tissue cysts in their brains at necropsy. Mouse brains containing tissue cysts, from 4 of the str ains were fed to 4 cats. Two of the cars excreted T. gondii oocysts in thei r feces that were infectious for mice. Molecular analyses of 13 strains ind icated that they were all type II strains, but that they were genetically d istinct From one another.