Disseminated Toxoplasmosis in Black-Footed Penguins (Spheniscus demersus)

Three 1- to 3-mo-old black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) died within 24 hr of showing central nervous signs such as ataxia. The birds were housed in a baby penguin creche. At necropsy, peritonitis, pneumonia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and renomegaly were evident. Histologically, the liver, lung, brain, and small intestine contained numerous tachyzoites and a few cysts of Toxoplasma. Immunohistochemistry identified the protozoal parasites as Toxoplasma gondii. Ultrastructurally, this was confirmed by the presence of many tachyzoites of T. gondii in the liver and lungs.