A congenital Toxoplasma-like disease in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Abstract

Approximately 30% of 750 neonatal farmed ferret kits died without observed clinical signs. The presence of multifocal necrosis associated with Toxoplasma-like organisms in the liver, lung and heart suggested a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Surviving animals from affected litters were stunted but showed no histological or serological evidence of Toxoplasma infection, nor could infection be demonstrated by mouse inoculation. The involvement of animals at one day of age indicated congenitally acquired disease.