First Report of Clinical Toxoplasmosis in a Wild Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) from South India

Abstract

A wild Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) exhibiting neurological symptoms was rescued from a nearby human settlement adjoining a tiger reserve in South India. The animal was taken into observatory care for further observation. The animal was found to be sluggish, anorexic, and ataxic, with noticeable listlessness, and to exhibit insufficient responses to stimuli. Clinical and diagnostic testing via quantitative PCR revealed the presence ofToxoplasma gondii nucleic acid material in the whole blood. Treatment with oral clindamycin and supportive therapy was accordingly commenced. The tiger was housed under continued care in a rescue facility with minimal human intervention for the treatment duration. The animal subsequently recovered and was collared for release back into the wild with ongoing monitoring. To our knowledge, this study provides the first report of clinical toxoplasmosis in a live, wild Bengal tiger from South India. Our findings indicate the pathogenicity and sylvatic transmission of the organism among wild felids, and highlight the importance of monitoring diseases and their ecological effects in niche ecosystems to support long-term conservation efforts.

Keywords

Bengal tiger / toxoplasmosis / wildlife health / conservation medicine

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