Acute Visceral Toxoplasmosis in Captive Dik-Dik (Madoqua guentheri smithi)

Acute toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 2 captive dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri smithi) in the Houston Zoo. Both animals became ill suddenly and died in spite of supportive therapy. Toxoplasma gondii was identified in tissues of both animals immunohistochemically, and antibodies to T. gondii were found in titers of 1:800 or more in both animals upon examination by the modified agglutination test. The cause of death was considered to be toxoplasmic pneumonia. This is the first report of toxoplasmosis in M. g. smithi.