Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution that can infect a great variety of animal species and man. In the present study nine young dogs inoculated with three different samples of Toxoplasma gondii were evaluated. Seven of them showed ophthalmic alterations by means of direct and indirect microscopy, photomicrograph and histopathology. From the results obtained it was noted that ophthalmic alterations were already present at the end of the third week after inoculation, showing the precocity of such alterations. In the direct examination of the eyes, seven dogs presented increased reflective areas. Alterations such as papilledema, peripapillary exsudate and tapetum pigmentation were noted in three dogs submitted to retinograph. The histopathology showed focal mononuclear infiltrate of choroid, congestion of chorioretinal vessels an subretinal edema in eight dogs. Our results allow to conclude that acquired ocular toxoplasmosis in the dogs is as significant as in man and in doing so other studies must be undertaken.
toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasma gondii; ocular toxoplasmosis; dogs
