Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908)

Toxoplasmosis

Endoparasite

Serologic evidence of exposure in Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), and Phalacrocorax harrisi (Flightless Cormorant) from Fernandina and Isabela and domestic cats in Isabela.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Chromista

Phylum
Apicomplexa

Class
Conoidasida

Order
Eucoccidiorida

Family
Sarcocystidae

Genus
Toxoplasma

Species
gondii

Taxon category: Accepted

Origin: Introduced - established

Introduction

Year of first record: 2009

Mode of introduction: Accidental

Introduction Pathway: Contaminant

Subpathway: Parasites/pathogens on animals

Introduced status: Naturalized

Invasive status: No data

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Isabela, Fernandina

References

  • Deem, S.L. Merkel, J., Ballweber, J., Vargas, F.H., Cruz, M.B., & Parker, P.G. (2010) Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) and flightless cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) in the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46: 1005-1011.
  • Gottdenker, N.L. Walsh, T., Vargas, H., Merkel, J., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., J., Miller, R.E., Dailey, M. & Parker, P. (2005) Assessing the risks of introduced chickens and their pathogens to native birds in the Galápagos Archipelago. Biological Conservation 126: 429–439.
  • Levy, J.K. Crawford, C., Lappin, M.R., Dubovi, E.J,. Levy, M.G., Alleman, R., Tucker, S.J. & Clifford, E.L. (2008) Infectious diseases of dogs and cats on Isabela island, Galapagos. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 22: 60-65.
  • Parker, P.G. Whiteman, N.K., & Miller, R.E. (2006) Conservation medicine on the Galápagos Islands: partnerships among behavioral, population, and veterinarian scientists. The Auk 123(3): 625-638.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Toxoplasma gondii", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=10274. Accessed 31 October 2026.