Lesiones asociadas a una toxoplasmosis aguda en perdices rojas (alectoris rufa) infectadas experimentalmente

espanolEn el presente trabajo se describen las lesiones asociadas a una toxoplasmosis aguda en perdices rojas (Alectoris rufa) infectadas experimentalmente con ooquistes de Toxoplasma gondii. Para ello, treinta perdices rojas de cinco meses de edad fueron infectadas por via oral con ooquistes de la cepa OV-51/95 de T. gondii. Las aves fueron distribuidas en cinco lotes, que recibieron unas dosis infectantes de 10, 50, 100, 1000 y 10000 ooquistes, respectivamente. Solo dos aves, inoculadas con 50 y 10000 ooquistes, murieron por toxoplasmosis aguda al cabo de 7 dias postinoculacion. Macroscopicamente se aprecio hepatomegalia, esplenomegalia y congestion vascular del intestino delgado. Las lesiones microscopicas mas caracteristicas consistieron en una enteritis y focos de necrosis en el bazo y el higado. Se observaron taquizoitos en los cortes histologicos de estos tejidos, y ademas en pancreas, pulmon, rinon, tejido muscular esqueletico y cardiaco, proventriculo, molleja y bolsa de Fabricio. EnglishThe present study describes lesions associated with acute toxoplasmosis in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa). Thirty red-legged partridges, 5-month-old, were orally inoculated with oocysts of the OV-51/95 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Birds were distributed into five groups, and received respectively 10, 50, 102, 103 and 104 oocysts. Only two partridges that received 50 and 10000 oocysts, respectively, died suddenly of acute toxoplasmosis at 7 day after inoculation. Partridges had splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and gastrointestinal congestion. The main microscopic lesions were seen only in small intestine, spleen and liver sections, associated with numerous tachyzoites of T. gondii. Tachyzoites were also seen in pancreas, lung, kidney, heart and esqueletal muscle, proventriculus, gizzard and bursa of Fabricius histological sections.