{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:31:31Z","timestamp":1787027491985,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,1]],"date-time":"2022-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1646092800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely successful zoonotic protozoan parasite that has been demonstrated in a wide range of endo- and poikilothermic species. Although infection is widespread amongst domestic animals, overt disease other than abortion in small ruminants is sporadic. This survey evaluates toxoplasmosis in zoo animals based on a systematic review of pathology archive material (n = 33,506 submissions) over a 16-year study period. A total of 126 submissions, deriving from 32 zoos, two educational facilities and two private owners, were included in the study, based on gross lesions, cytological, histological and immunohistological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Clinical history, signalment, annual distribution and post-mortem findings were evaluated. A total of 31 species (mammalian 97%\/avian 3%) were represented in the study material. Ring-tailed lemurs, slender tailed meerkats, Pallas\u2019 cats, and squirrel monkeys were most affected. An unusual outbreak occurred in Asian small-clawed otters, in which toxoplasmosis has not been reported to date. Clinically, animals over 12 months of age presented with non-specific symptoms (anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, debilitation), neurological, gastrointestinal or respiratory signs and sudden death. Systemic disease predominated, with a propensity for encephalitis in meerkats and Pallas\u2019 cats and systemic disease involving lymphoid tissues in ring-tailed lemurs. Cases in the UK occurred year-round, with species-specific peaks and increases between August and November. This study reinforces the importance of toxoplasmosis as a significant cause of sporadic and epizootic mortalities in a wide range of zoo animals. Feral cat control is crucial to reduce infection pressure.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12050619","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,1]],"date-time":"2022-03-01T08:17:03Z","timestamp":1646122623000},"page":"619","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":30,"title":["Toxoplasmosis in Zoo Animals: A Retrospective Pathology Review of 126 Cases"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7985-8047","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniela","family":"Denk","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simon","family":"De Neck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1937-7644","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shannon","family":"Khaliq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4519-4323","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mark F.","family":"Stidworthy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"International Zoo Veterinary Group, Parkwood Street, Keighley BD21 4NQ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,3,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1863-2378.2009.01276.x","article-title":"A brief history and overview of Toxoplasma gondii","volume":"57","author":"Innes","year":"2010","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1079\/AHR2005100","article-title":"Biology and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in man and animals","volume":"6","author":"Hill","year":"2005","journal-title":"Anim. 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