Inactivated Toxoplasma gondii nanovaccine boosts T-cell memory response in a seropositive yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) – A case report from Copenhagen Zoo

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite causing significant mortality in captive wildlife, especially marsupials. Historically, treatment has been unrewarding and no vaccine was available. An intranasal vaccine based on purified inactivated T. gondii was developed for toxoplasmosis prevention. A vaccination campaign started in early 2017 and was successful in preventing toxoplasma-related mortality in marsupials in many European and South American zoos. Amongst the vaccinated wallabies, about 30% were T. gondii seropositive before the vaccination, and no toxoplasma-related deaths were observed since the administration of the vaccine. The objective of this case study was to assess the potential effect of the vaccination on a seropositive wallaby. It is important to note that this vaccine doesn't induce any humoral response in sheep, and squirrel monkeys but induces a strong T-cell response. A T. gondii seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus) from Copenhagen Zoo received two doses of the aforementioned intranasal vaccine. Blood samples were collected before each vaccination and used for peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation. The impact of the vaccination on the lymphocyte phenotype was characterized by flow cytometry. Cell size, represented by forward scatter, and granularity, represented by side scatter parameters were analyzed. Two doses of the vaccine induced a respective 30.1 and 25.6% increase in cell size and granularity in lymphocytes stimulated with T. gondii antigens, as assessed by flow cytometry. These changes were likely correlated with T-cell activation, which indicates that two doses of the vaccine might have boosted the already-existing T-cell memory response against T. gondii in a seropositive animal. No morphological changes were observed in lymphocytes from an unvaccinated seronegative wallaby. This is the first documented case of boosting an already-existing cellular immune response against toxoplasmosis by the vaccine in a seropositive Yellow-footed rock wallaby.