Abstract
The validity of Anti-Toxoplasma IgM/IgG Serum Test Cassette for human (INNOVITA Biological Technology Co., Ltd.) (abbrev. human TOXO Test Cassette) and Canine/Cat Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Rapid Test Strip for canine and cat (Shenzhen Lyshiyuan Biotechnology Co., LTD.) (abbrev. Canine/Cat TOXO Test Cassette) were used in comparison for detecting dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgM/IgG in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The results suggested human TOXO Test Cassette could detect dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgG. Another detection method such as western blotting or indirect hemagglutination test (abbrev. IHAT) should apply for the finalized diagnosis.1
Numerous reports revealed toxoplasmosis should be considered as a cause of morbidity and mortality in marine mammals including cetaceans.2,3 The human anti-toxoplasma IgM/IgG antibodies diagnosis is a standard method for toxoplasmosis detection in the human field. Murata et al. (2004) reported dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgM/IgG were detected by IHAT.3 Carle et al. (2012) informed that toxoplasmosis in cetaceans were cured with clindamycin administration.4 These reports suggested that, the early diagnosis is the key to cure the toxoplasmosis. However, few significant clinical signs make the early diagnosis of cetaceans’ toxoplasmosis difficult.
Schaefer et al. (2012) reported non-species-specific chimeric protein conjugate into an anti-toxoplasma IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay could be applied to detect several terrestrial animals’ anti-toxoplasma IgG.5 Toxo-Screen DA (bioMérieux SA) can be applied to detect dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgG/IgM.6 Our previous report in IMATA 2017 suggested the validity of human TOXO Test Cassette to analyze dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgG in bottlenose dolphin, it was uncertain for dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgM.1 All samples which were examined with human TOXO Test Cassette were reexamined with Canine/Cat TOXO Test Cassette. Canine/Cat TOXO Test Cassette showed negative for IgM/IgG with all samples.
This study suggested that the difference of the dolphin anti-toxoplasma IgG detection validity between human TOXO Test Cassette and Canine/Cat TOXO Test Cassette came from the type of the chimeric conjugate. Several toxoplasmosis test kits for other animal species can be applied to dolphin same as terrestrial animals, if these kits choose non-species-specific chimeric protein conjugate to detect anti-toxoplasma IgG.
Acknowledgements
This project would not have been possible without the effort of the team of Dolphins Pacific, as well as the support of the managers.
* Presenting author
Literature Cited
1. Kamio T, Ago A, Okamoto M, Murata K. 2017. A pilot study of the earliest diagnosis for fatal toxoplasmosis in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in captivity. IMATA 45th Annual Conference Proceedings, Riviera Maya, Mexico.
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3. Murata K, Mizuta K, Imazu K, Terasawa F, Taki M. 2004. The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild and captive cetaceans from Japan. Journal of Parasitology. 90:896–898.
4. Carle SM, Staggs LA, Holmes-Douglas MS, Erwin MD. 2012. Toxoplasma gondii infection in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) in human care. IAAAM 43rd Annual Conference proceedings, Atlanta, GA; p. 14–15.
5. Schaefer JJ, White HA, Schaaf SL, Mohammed HO, Wade SE. 2012. Chimeric protein A/G conjugate for detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G in multiple animal species. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 24:572–575.
6. Murata K. Personal communication. 2017.