Toxoplasma gondii infection in the endangered Amami Woodcock, Scolopax mira (Aves: Charadriiformes).

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan for which family Felidae serves as the definitive hosts. In regions where native felids are absent, introduced domestic cats (Felis catus) act as reservoirs of T. gondii, posing a threat of infection to various wildlife population. A population of feral cats has been identified on Amami-Oshima Island located in the southern part of the Japanese Archipelago, and molecular examination confirmed that the T. gondii they harbour has spread to endemic mammals. In this study, we aimed to detect T. gondii in the Amami Woodcock (Scolopax mira), a bird species endemic to Amami-Oshima Island. DNA was extracted from the brain tissue of twenty-two birds, and molecular detection of T. gondii was performed using a commercial T. gondii detection kit based on real-time polymerase chain reaction. Two birds (9.1%) tested positive. The determined nucleotide sequences were 100% identical to that of the T. gondii reference sequence. Histopathological examination and ultrastructural analyses revealed terminal colonies in the cardiomyocytes of one bird, which were immunohistochemically confirmed as T. gondii. Here, we report the first record of T. gondii infection in the Amami Woodcock. Given its endangered status, ongoing research on the prevalence and pathogenicity of T. gondii is warranted.