1
|
Heddergott M, Pikalo J, Müller F, Osten-Sacken N, Steinbach P. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild American Mink ( Neogale vison): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland. Pathogens 2024; 13:153. [PMID: 38392891 PMCID: PMC10892754 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this parasite is waterborne transmission. The American mink (Neogale vison), a mammal closely adapted to freshwater ecosystems, is a potential sentinel for T. gondii. We analysed meat juice from the heart of 194 wild minks collected between 2019 and 2022 in five study areas from Germany and Poland and tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii. The analysis was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 45.36% (88/194, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.39-52.41%) of the analysed animals. While the prevalence values ranged from 37.50% to 49.30%, there was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the study areas. Juveniles were less likely to carry T. gondii antibodies than adults (odds ratio: 0.216), whereas there was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes (odds ratio: 0.933). The results of our study show that contact with T. gondii is widespread in minks, and the parasite is common in inland freshwater ecosystems in Germany and Poland. This indicates that watercourses play an important role in the spread of T. gondii oocysts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mike Heddergott
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
| | - Jutta Pikalo
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Franz Müller
- Wildlife Biology Working Group, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Natalia Osten-Sacken
- Institute for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, Poland;
| | - Peter Steinbach
- Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
- Faculty of Chemistry, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Matas Méndez P, Fuentes Corripio I, Montoya Matute A, Bailo Barroso B, Grande Gómez R, Apruzzese Rubio A, Ponce Gordo F, Mateo Barrientos M. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Endangered Wild Felines ( Felis silvestris and Lynx pardinus) in Spain. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2488. [PMID: 37570297 PMCID: PMC10417606 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) are important species in Spain, considered as near-threatened and endangered, respectively. Both can be infected by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause morbidity and mortality in transplacentally-infected or immunocompromised mammals. The data on the prevalence of this parasite in wild populations of these species in Spain are outdated. The objective of this study was to update information and evaluate the role of these felines in parasite epidemiology and the potential impact of the parasite on their conservation. Blood and fecal samples were collected from captured animals, as well as the tongue, diaphragm, and spleen, from animals killed in road accidents in central Spain. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to detect parasite antibodies in serum, microscopy and molecular analysis were used to detect oocysts in feces, and molecular analysis was used to determine the existence of tissue cysts. Seroprevalence was 85% in wildcats and 45% in lynx, and parasite DNA was detected in the feces of one wildcat and in tissue samples from 10 wildcats and 11 Iberian lynxes. These results highlight the epidemiological importance and high risk of T. gondii infection in animals and humans in the studied areas. Considering feline susceptibility to infection, monitoring programs are needed to assess the health status of wild felines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Matas Méndez
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28691 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Isabel Fuentes Corripio
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (I.F.C.); (B.B.B.)
| | - Ana Montoya Matute
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Begoña Bailo Barroso
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (I.F.C.); (B.B.B.)
| | - Rebeca Grande Gómez
- Technical Assistence, General Direction of Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha, 45007 Toledo, Spain; (R.G.G.); (A.A.R.)
| | - Ariadna Apruzzese Rubio
- Technical Assistence, General Direction of Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Ministry of Sustainable Development, Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha, 45007 Toledo, Spain; (R.G.G.); (A.A.R.)
| | - Francisco Ponce Gordo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Mateo Barrientos
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Veronesi F, Deak G, Diakou A. Wild Mesocarnivores as Reservoirs of Endoparasites Causing Important Zoonoses and Emerging Bridging Infections across Europe. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020178. [PMID: 36839450 PMCID: PMC9964259 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesocarnivores are small- or mid-sized carnivore species that display a variety of ecologies and behaviours. In Europe, wild mesocarnivores are represented by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the golden jackal (Canis aureus), the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), the Mustelidae of the genera Meles, Martes, Mustela, Lutra, the invasive species of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and American mink (Neogale vison). These abundant animals thrive in various habitats and often develop their activity close to human settlements. Thus, they may play an important role in the introduction, maintenance, and transmission of major parasitic zoonoses and promote bridging infections with domestic animals. Against this background, this article reports and discusses some of the most important endoparasites of wild mesocarnivores living in Europe, on the basis of their actual role as reservoirs, spreaders, or sentinels. The data derived from epizootiological studies in different European countries, and the proven or speculated implications of the detected endoparasites in human and domestic animals' health, are discussed. Through older and recent literature review, the state-of-the-art knowledge on the occurrence and prevalence of the parasites under consideration is presented, showing further, warranted investigations and the need for surveillance and vigilance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Veronesi
- Parasitology Laboratory of the University Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.V.); (G.D.); (A.D.)
| | - Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence: (F.V.); (G.D.); (A.D.)
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence: (F.V.); (G.D.); (A.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Engel L, Hamedy A, Koethe M. Direct detection and quantification of Toxoplasma gondii in meat samples from feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany by magnetic-capture real-time PCR. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:307-313. [PMID: 36401669 PMCID: PMC9816176 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07730-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Because the number of wild raccoons in Germany is increasing constantly, it appears to be economic reasonable to use their meat as food. For this purpose, it is essential to generate data regarding the pathogen load of the meat to be consumed and handled. It is known that raccoons, particularly in Germany, show a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. Because serological data only indicates contact of a host to a parasite additional direct detection is needed to prove presence of parasitic stages in particular tissues. Therefore, a total of 150 samples from raccoons with known serostatus were tested and quantified using magnetic-capture real-time PCR for Toxoplasma gondii. As it represents potentially consumption-relevant parts of raccoons, meat from forelimb and hindlimb was examined. Samples were stratified into three groups based on the animals' serostatus (each 50 negative, low positive, and high positive). All samples from seronegative animals were found negative by MC-PCR as well. In a total of 56 meat samples from 100 seropositive animals, T. gondii DNA was detected. Statistically significant more samples were positive by MC-PCR in the high positive than in the low positive serostatus group (38/50 vs. 18/50, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, samples from the former group were also found to have statistically significant higher DNA equivalent values compared to samples from the low positive serostatus group (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that meat from seropositive raccoons may contain considerable numbers of T. gondii presenting a potential public health risk for humans whilst handling and consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Engel
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Ahmad Hamedy
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Koethe
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Höche J, House RV, Heinrich A, Schliephake A, Albrecht K, Pfeffer M, Ellenberger C. Pathogen Screening for Possible Causes of Meningitis/Encephalitis in Wild Carnivores From Saxony-Anhalt. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:826355. [PMID: 35464387 PMCID: PMC9021439 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.826355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation in meninges and/or brain is regularly noticed in red foxes and other wild carnivores during rabies control programs. Despite negative rabies virus (RABV) results, the etiologies of these cases remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide an overview of the occurrence of pathogens that may cause diseases in the brains of wild carnivores and pose a risk to humans and other animals. In addition to RABV and canine distemper virus (CDV), a variety of pathogens, including members of Flaviviridae, Bornaviridae, Herpesviridae, Circoviridae, as well as bacteria and parasites can also cause brain lesions. In 2016 and 2017, brain samples of 1,124 wild carnivores were examined by direct fluorescent antibody test for RABV as well as (reverse-transcriptase) quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of CDV as part of a monitoring program in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Here, we applied similar methods to specifically detect suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), West Nile virus (WNV), Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), canid alphaherpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), fox circovirus (FoxCV), and Neospora caninum (N. caninum). Further, bacteriogical examination for the existence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) and immunohistochemistry of selected cases to detect Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antigen were performed. Of all pathogens studied, CDV was found most frequently (31.05%), followed by FoxCV (6.80%), CPV-2 (6.41%), T. gondii (4/15; 26.67%), nematode larvae (1.51%), L. monocytogenes (0.3%), and various other bacterial pathogens (1.42%). In 68 of these cases (6.05%), multiple pathogen combinations were present simultaneously. However, RABV, WNV, BoDV-1, SuHV-1, CaHV-1, and N. caninum were not detected. The majority of the histopathological changes in 440 animals were inflammation (320/440; 72.73%), predominantly non-suppurative in character (280/320; 87.50%), and in many cases in combination with gliosis, satellitosis, neuronophagia, neuronal necrosis, and/or vacuolization/demyelination, or in single cases with malacia. Thus, it could be shown that wild carnivores in Saxony-Anhalt are carriers mainly for CDV and sometimes also for other, partly zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, the existing monitoring program should be expanded to assess the spill-over risk from wild carnivores to humans and other animals and to demonstrate the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of these zoonotic pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Höche
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jennifer Höche
| | - Robert Valerio House
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Anja Heinrich
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Annette Schliephake
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Kerstin Albrecht
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Centre of Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christin Ellenberger
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, State Office for Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt, Stendal, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bouchard É, Sharma R, Hernández-Ortiz A, Buhler K, Al-Adhami B, Su C, Fenton H, G-Gouin G, Roth JD, Rodrigues CW, Pamak C, Simon A, Bachand N, Leighton P, Jenkins E. Are foxes (Vulpes spp.) good sentinel species for Toxoplasma gondii in northern Canada? Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:115. [PMID: 35365191 PMCID: PMC8972674 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In changing northern ecosystems, understanding the mechanisms of transmission of zoonotic pathogens, including the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is essential to protect the health of vulnerable animals and humans. As high-level predators and scavengers, foxes represent a potentially sensitive indicator of the circulation of T. gondii in environments where humans co-exist. The objectives of our research were to compare serological and molecular assays to detect T. gondii, generate baseline data on T. gondii antibody and tissue prevalence in foxes in northern Canada, and compare regional seroprevalence in foxes with that in people from recently published surveys across northern Canada. Methods Fox carcasses (Vulpes vulpes/Vulpes lagopus, n = 749) were collected by local trappers from the eastern (Labrador and Québec) and western Canadian Arctic (northern Manitoba, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories) during the winters of 2015–2019. Antibodies in heart fluid were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in hearts and brains using a magnetic capture DNA extraction and real-time PCR assay. Results Antibodies against T. gondii and DNA were detected in 36% and 27% of foxes, respectively. Detection of antibodies was higher in older (64%) compared to younger foxes (22%). More males (36%) than females (31%) were positive for antibodies to T. gondii. Tissue prevalence in foxes from western Nunavik (51%) was higher than in eastern Nunavik (19%). At the Canadian scale, T. gondii exposure was lower in western Inuit regions (13%) compared to eastern Inuit regions (39%), possibly because of regional differences in fox diet and/or environment. Exposure to T. gondii decreased at higher latitude and in foxes having moderate to little fat. Higher mean infection intensity was observed in Arctic foxes compared to red foxes. Fox and human seroprevalence showed similar trends across Inuit regions of Canada, but were less correlated in the eastern sub-Arctic, which may reflect regional differences in human dietary preferences. Conclusions Our study sheds new light on the current status of T. gondii in foxes in northern Canada and shows that foxes serve as a good sentinel species for environmental circulation and, in some regions, human exposure to this parasite in the Arctic. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05229-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Émilie Bouchard
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. .,Research Group On Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
| | - Rajnish Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Adrián Hernández-Ortiz
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kayla Buhler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Batol Al-Adhami
- Centre for Food-Borne and Animal Parasitology, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Heather Fenton
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | | | - James D Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Carla Pamak
- Nunatsiavut Research Centre, Nain, NL, Canada
| | - Audrey Simon
- Research Group On Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Nicholas Bachand
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Patrick Leighton
- Research Group On Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fernández-Escobar M, Schares G, Maksimov P, Joeres M, Ortega-Mora LM, Calero-Bernal R. Toxoplasma gondii Genotyping: A Closer Look Into Europe. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:842595. [PMID: 35402301 PMCID: PMC8984497 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.842595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major zoonotic agent which may cause harmful effects mainly in pregnant and immunocompromised hosts. Despite many efforts on its genetic characterization, an entirely clear picture of the population structure in Europe has not been achieved yet. The present study aimed to summarize the available genotyping information and to map the distribution of circulating strains. There is consensus on type II T. gondii genotypes prevailing in Europe, but the absence of harmonization in the use of typing methods limits detailed knowledge. Standardized, high-end typing tools and integrative strategies are needed to fill the gaps and complete an accurate image of the T. gondii genetic population in Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gereon Schares
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Maike Joeres
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rafael Calero-Bernal,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mancusi A, Giordano A, Bosco A, Girardi S, Proroga YTR, Morena L, Pinto R, Sarnelli P, Cringoli G, Rinaldi L, Capuano F, Maurelli MP. Development of a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction tool for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in meat samples. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1467-1473. [PMID: 35230549 PMCID: PMC8993784 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Infection in humans has usually been related to the consumption of raw, undercooked or cured meat. The aim of this study was to develop a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR)-based assay for the detection and quantification of T. gondii in meat samples. To optimize the ddPCR, T.gondii reference DNA aliquots at five known concentrations: 8000 cg/µl, 800 cg/µl, 80 cg/µl, 8 cg/µl were used. Moreover, results obtained by ddPCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were compared using 80 known samples (40 positive and 40 negative), as well as 171 unknown diaphragm tissue samples collected at slaughterhouses. The ddPCR showed a sensitivity of 97.5% and a specificity of 100%, with a detection limit of 8 genomic copy/µl of T. gondii. A nearly perfect agreement (κ = 0.85) was found between results obtained by ddPCR and qPCR for both positive and negative known samples analysed. On the 171 diaphragm tissue samples from field, 7.6% resulted positive by ddPCR and only 1.2% by qPCR. Therefore, this innovative method could be very useful for the detection of T. gondii in meat samples, aiming to prevent human infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mancusi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA), Italy
| | - Angela Giordano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA), Italy
| | - Antonio Bosco
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Italy
| | - Santa Girardi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA), Italy
| | | | - Luigi Morena
- Centro Di Riferimento Regionale Sanità Animale (CReSan), Salerno, Italy
| | - Renato Pinto
- UOD Prevenzione E Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Sarnelli
- UOD Prevenzione E Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Italy
- Centro Di Riferimento Regionale Sanità Animale (CReSan), Salerno, Italy
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Italy
- Centro Di Riferimento Regionale Sanità Animale (CReSan), Salerno, Italy
| | - Federico Capuano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, NA), Italy
| | - Maria Paola Maurelli
- Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild omnivorous and carnivorous animals in Central Europe – a brief overview. Vet Parasitol 2022; 304:109701. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
10
|
Stollberg KC, Schares G, Mayer-Scholl A, Hrushetska I, Diescher S, Johne A, Richter MH, Bier NS. Comparison of Direct and Indirect Toxoplasma gondii Detection and Genotyping in Game: Relationship and Challenges. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081663. [PMID: 34442742 PMCID: PMC8399173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of game as a source of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in humans is largely unknown. New data on the presence of T. gondii in game hunted in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany, were obtained by direct and indirect detection (ELISA). DNA extracted either directly (5 g heart or foreleg muscle, DE) or after acid pepsin digestion (50 g heart, PD) or enriched by magnetic capture (50 g heart, MC) was examined by real-time PCR (qPCR). ELISA revealed seroprevalences of 20% in wild boar (Sus scrofa), 11% in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 6% in red deer (Cervus elaphus). T. gondii DNA was detected by at least one direct detection method in 12% of wild boar, 6% of roe deer, 2% of fallow deer (Dama dama) and 2% of red deer. In both, positive wild boar and roe deer, T. gondii type II specific alleles were the most prevalent, as assessed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The highest proportion of positive animals was detected by MC qPCR, followed by PD qPCR with a similar proportion of positive findings. Investigation of 50 g of heart muscle revealed a significantly higher proportion of positive qPCR results than analysis of 5 g (p = 0.048). An association between seropositivity and direct detection was evident in wild boar and roe deer (p < 0.001). Infectivity of T. gondii DNA–positive samples was confirmed by bioassay (4/4), providing evidence that game could represent a relevant source of viable T. gondii posing a risk for human infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaya C. Stollberg
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Safety in the Food Chain, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Gereon Schares
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Iryna Hrushetska
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Susanne Diescher
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Annette Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Martin H. Richter
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
| | - Nadja S. Bier
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, 12277 Berlin, Germany; (A.M.-S.); (I.H.); (S.D.); (A.J.); (M.H.R.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH, Su C. Epidemiological Significance of Toxoplasma Gondii Infections in Wild Rodents: 2009-2020. J Parasitol 2021; 107:182-204. [PMID: 33662119 DOI: 10.1645/20-121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Rodents are one of the most important intermediate hosts for T. gondii because they are preyed on by cats, who in turn excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in their feces and thus spread the infection. Information on T. gondii infections is spread in numerous reports and is not easily accessible to readers. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and genetic diversity of T. gondii infections in wild rodents worldwide. Data are tabulated by country, by each rodent species alphabetically, and chronologically. Recent genetic diversity of T. gondii strains in rodents is critically evaluated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - F H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - C K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - O C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
| | - C Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0845
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wei XY, Gao Y, Lv C, Wang W, Chen Y, Zhao Q, Gong QL, Zhang XX. The global prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii among foxes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2020; 150:104699. [PMID: 33383150 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful intracellular protozoan parasites in the world, which can infect most warm-blooded animals including foxes in the world and cause toxoplasmosis. This is the first meta-analysis to assess the overall prevalence and potential risk factors of T. gondii among foxes in the world. Relevant studies were comprehensively collected from ScienceDirect, Springer-Link, PubMed, VIP Chinese Journal Databases (VIP), WanFang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. The random-effect model was used to calculate pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and analyzed data were from 20 countries. The pooled T. gondii prevalence in foxes was estimated to be 39.6%. T. gondii has the highest prevalence in North America (51.2%), and lowest in Asia (8.3%). The prevalence in the sub-group after 2006 (44.7%) was lower than 2006 or before (48.5%). The prevalence in female foxes was 46.1%, which was higher than that in male foxes (19.7%). In species subgroup, red fox has the highest prevalence (46.8%). Wild foxes have a higher rate of infection (40.8%) than captive foxes (8.4%). Genotype Ⅱ of T. gondii is the most prevalent in foxes. We also evaluated the effects of geographical and climate variables on pooled prevalence of T. gondii in foxes. Our research indicated that toxoplasmosis widely existed in the world. The investigation of T. gondii infection in wild animals can provide an estimate of environmental pollution and T. gondii circulation in the ecosystem. It is essential for us to prevent and control T. gondii infection in foxes in order to reduce the risk of human infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Wei
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, 163319, PR China
| | - Yang Gao
- Chongqing Auleon Biological Co Ltd, Rongchang, Chongqing, 402460, PR China; The Key Sericultural Laboratory of Agricultural Ministry, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Chuang Lv
- Shandong New Hope Liuhe Group Co Ltd, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, 163319, PR China
| | - Yu Chen
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, 163319, PR China
| | - Quan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130118, PR China
| | - Qing-Long Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130118, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, 163319, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH. Recent epidemiologic and clinical Toxoplasma gondii infections in wild canids and other carnivores: 2009-2020. Vet Parasitol 2020; 290:109337. [PMID: 33476902 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in wild canids and other carnivores for the past decade. Seroprevalence estimates of T. gondii worldwide were tabulated for each host. Seroprevalence in wild foxes was very high compared with farmed Arctic foxes. Economic and public health aspects of some of the carnivore species raised for fur and meat (raccoon dogs, mink) are discussed. Diagnostic efficacies of different serological methods and PCR methods are discussed. Clinical toxoplasmosis was observed mainly in carnivores concurrently infected with immunosuppressive Canine Distemper Virus infection. Abortion and blindness were noted in mink. Genetic diversity of isolates using DNA derived from 162 (89 viable T. gondii isolates and 73 DNA extracted from tissues) of wild carnivores from several countries is discussed. However, 69 of the 162 T. gondii isolates were strains from USA and these were genetically diverse with predominance of ToxoDB genotypes #4 and #5 (haplogroup 12). Only limited information is available concerning genotyping of T. gondii isolates from other countries; none of the 93 T. gondii isolates from other countries (Brazil, China, France, Grenada) were haplogroup 12.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jitender P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.
| | - Fernando H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Camila K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Oliver C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fernández-Escobar M, Calero-Bernal R, Benavides J, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Guerrero-Molina MC, Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Collantes-Fernández E, Ortega-Mora LM. Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Spanish sheep flocks. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:396. [PMID: 32758283 PMCID: PMC7404076 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of abortion in small ruminants and presents a zoonotic risk when undercooked meat containing cysts is consumed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic diversity among the T. gondii strains circulating in ovine livestock in Spain. Methods Selected samples collected from abortion outbreaks due to toxoplasmosis (n = 31) and from chronically infected adult sheep at slaughterhouses (n = 50) in different Spanish regions were bioassayed in mice, aiming at parasite isolation. In addition, all original clinical samples and the resulting isolates were genotyped by multi-nested PCR-RFLP analysis of 11 molecular markers and by PCR-DNA sequencing of portions of the SAG3, GRA6 and GRA7 genes. Results As a result, 30 isolates were obtained from 9 Spanish regions: 10 isolates from abortion-derived samples and 20 isolates from adult myocardial tissues. Overall, 3 genotypes were found: ToxoDB#3 (type II PRU variant) in 90% (27/30) of isolates, ToxoDB#2 (clonal type III) in 6.7% (2/30), and ToxoDB#1 (clonal type II) in 3.3% (1/30). When T. gondii-positive tissue samples (n = 151) were directly subjected to RFLP genotyping, complete restriction profiles were obtained for 33% of samples, and up to 98% of the specimens belonged to the type II PRU variant. A foetal brain showed a clonal type II pattern, and four specimens showed unexpected type I alleles at the SAG3 marker, including two foetal brains that showed I + II alleles as co-infection events. Amplicons of SAG3, GRA6 and GRA7 obtained from isolates and clinical samples were subjected to sequencing, allowing us to confirm RFLP results and to detect different single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Conclusions The present study informed the existence of a predominant type II PRU variant genotype (ToxoDB#3) infecting domestic sheep in Spain, in both abortion cases and chronic infections in adults, coexisting with other clonal (ToxoDB#1 and ToxoDB#2), much less frequent genotypes, as well as polymorphic strains as revealed by clinical sample genotyping. The use of multilocus sequence typing aided in accurately estimating T. gondii intragenotype diversity. ![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Julio Benavides
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), 24346, León, Spain
| | - Javier Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET-innova S.L, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Cristina Guerrero-Molina
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Esther Collantes-Fernández
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Fernández-Escobar M, Millán J, Chirife AD, Ortega-Mora LM, Calero-Bernal R. Molecular survey for cyst-forming coccidia (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp.) in Mediterranean periurban micromammals. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2679-2686. [PMID: 32588173 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06777-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Rodents and other micromammals constitute important reservoirs of infectious diseases; their role in the life cycle of apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. still needs clarification. In the present study, we analyzed by PCR and Sanger sequencing methods the presence of specific parasite DNA within brain and heart tissues of 313 individuals of five synanthropic small mammal species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus, M. musculus, Rattus rattus, and Crocidura russula) collected in Barcelona metropolitan area (NE Spain). In addition, PCR-RFLP and microsatellites were also used as tools for genotypic characterization of T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. Specific DNA of T. gondii, N. caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. was detected in 0.3% (n = 1), 1.3% (n = 4), and 3.8% (n = 12) of the animals, respectively. No mixed infections were observed. Crocidura russula stood out as the main host for Sarcocystis spp. Toxoplasma gondii-specific DNA detected in a house rat was genetically characterized by PCR-RFLP, presenting type II and III alleles (SAG1 [II], SAG3 [II], GRA6 [II], c22-8 [III], Apico [III]). Also, unsuccessful DNA sequencing and microsatellite typing were attempted in N. caninum-positive samples, which suggested a lack of PCR specificity and open avenues to speculate the host competence of rodents for N. caninum. Likewise, Sarcocystis spp. identity was studied by alignment and phylogenetic analyses of cox1 and 28S rRNA sequences from the 14 positive samples. It resulted in at least three unknown organisms closely similar (95.7-100% cox1-sequence homology) to Sarcocystis pantherophisi from the Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) (KU891603), suggesting together with 28S rRNA sequences analyses, three Sarcocystis sp. with a life cycle conformed by rodents as intermediate host (IH) and snakes as definitive hosts (DH) infecting the periurban micromammals surveyed. Prevalence figures found in this first survey carried out in Spain agree with other international studies focused on periurban areas. Further surveys should be conducted in farms and their surroundings in order to unravel the role of wild micromammals in the epidemiology of such protozoan parasites affecting our livestock, and therefore human population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Millán
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.,Fundación ARAID, Avda. de Ranillas, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET Group, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Development of an in vivo model for Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens and turkeys simulating natural routes of infection. Vet Parasitol 2019; 276:108956. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.108956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
17
|
Waindok P, Özbakış-Beceriklisoy G, Janecek-Erfurth E, Springer A, Pfeffer M, Leschnik M, Strube C. Parasites in brains of wild rodents (Arvicolinae and Murinae) in the city of Leipzig, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:211-217. [PMID: 31667084 PMCID: PMC6812005 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Small rodents serve as intermediate or paratenic hosts for a variety of parasites and may participate in the transmission of these parasites into synanthropic cycles. Parasites with neuroinvasive stages, such as Toxoplasma gondii or Toxocara canis, can cause detrimental damage in the brain of intermediate or paratenic hosts. Therefore, the occurrence of neuroinvasive parasite stages was evaluated in brains of wild rodents captured in the city of Leipzig, Germany. In addition, a few specimens from the cities of Hanover, Germany, and Vienna, Austria were included, resulting in a total of 716 rodents collected between 2011 and 2016. Brains were investigated for parasitic stages by microscopic examination of native tissue, artificially digested tissue as well as Giemsa-stained digestion solution to verify positive results. Infective stages of zoonotic ascarids or other helminths were not detected in any sample, while coccidian cysts were found in 10.1% (95% CI: 7.9–12.5%; 72/716) of examined brains. The most abundant rodent species in the study was the bank vole (Myodes glareolus; Arvicolinae), showing an infection rate with cerebral cysts of 13.9% (95% CI: 11.0–17.8%; 62/445), while 2.7% (95% CI: 1.0–5.8%; 6/222) of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis; Murinae) were infected. Generalized linear modelling revealed a statistically significant difference in prevalence between M. glareolus and A. flavicollis, significant local differences as well as an effect of increasing body mass on cyst prevalence. Coccidian cysts were differentiated by amplification of the 18S rRNA gene and subsequent sequencing. The majority of identifiable cysts (97.9%) were determined as Frenkelia glareoli, a coccidian species mainly circulating between M. glareolus as intermediate and buzzards (Buteo spp.) as definitive hosts. The zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii was confirmed in one M. glareolus originating from the city of Leipzig. Overall, it can be concluded that neuroinvasion of zoonotic parasites seems to be rare in M. glareolus and A. flavicollis. In examined rodents, neuroinvasion of zoonotic parasites seems to be rare. The coccidia Frenkelia glareoli was the most abundant neuroinvasive parasite. The zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii was identified in one Myodes glareolus brain. No neuroinvasive zoonotic helminth stages were detected in the rodents’ brains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Waindok
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Elisabeth Janecek-Erfurth
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany.,Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hanover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Leschnik
- Clinical Unit of Internal Medicine Small Animals, Veterinary University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Uzelac A, Klun I, Ćirović D, Penezić A, Ćirković V, Djurković-Djaković O. Detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild canids in Serbia. Parasitol Int 2019; 73:101973. [PMID: 31404655 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To gain insight into the population structure of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife in Serbia, multiplex nested PCR- RFLP was performed on T. gondii DNA positive samples of heart tissue of three wild canid species, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), golden jackals (Canis aureus) and grey wolves (Canis lupus). Out of 110 samples (28 red foxes, 72 golden jackals, 10 wolves), 30 (27.3%) were positive for T. gondii DNA, of which 24 were genotyped (nine red foxes, 13 golden jackals and two wolves). The results showed a large dominance of lineage II (n = 20, 83.4%) over lineage III (n = 4, 16.7%) strains. Lineage II comprised four archetypes, 14 variants and one which remained undetermined, while within lineage III there were three archetypes and one variant strain. However, a notable difference in diversity was observed among the examined canids, with eight (88.9%) of the nine strains detected in red foxes distinct, vs. six (46.1%) distinct strains of the 13 detected in golden jackals. Since anthropogenic food sources are a major reservoir of archetypal lineage II and III T. gondii strains, the results suggest that the golden jackal may be outcompeting the red fox, forcing it to hunt wild mammals and birds for sustenance, thereby increasing its chances of infection with variant strains. In addition to presenting the first data on the T. gondii population structure in wild canids in Serbia, this is the first report ever on T. gondii genotypes in golden jackals, a species with an increasing presence in Europe and another important reservoir of domestically circulating T. gondii strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Uzelac
- Center of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11129, Serbia
| | - Ivana Klun
- Center of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11129, Serbia
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Department for Animal Ecology and Zoogeography, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Penezić
- Department for Animal Ecology and Zoogeography, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Ćirković
- Center of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11129, Serbia
| | - Olgica Djurković-Djaković
- Center of Excellence for Food- and Vector-borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11129, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nicholas B, Ravel A, Leighton P, Stephen C, Iqbal A, Ndao M, Konecsni K, Fernando C, Jenkins E. Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) as sentinels for parasitic zoonoses, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella nativa, in the northeastern Canadian Arctic. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:391-397. [PMID: 30370219 PMCID: PMC6199765 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Outbreaks of Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. have been recurring for decades among Inuit of Nunavik, northeastern Canada. Contact with wildlife has been identified as a risk factor for Inuit exposure to T. gondii, but reservoirs have yet to be confirmed based on direct detection of DNA or organism. Similarly, little is known about the occurrence of Trichinella spp. in wildlife species of Nunavik other than walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and bears (Ursus americanus, Ursus maritimus). Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were targeted as possible sentinels for T. gondii and Trichinella spp. because of their high trophic position within the Arctic food chain as carnivorous scavengers. A total of 39 red foxes were sampled from four communities in southern and western Nunavik between November 2015 and September 2016. For the first time in wildlife, a novel magnetic capture DNA extraction and real-time PCR technique was used to isolate and detect T. gondii DNA from the heart and brain of foxes. A double separatory funnel digestion method followed by multiplex PCR was used to recover and genotype larvae of Trichinella spp. from tongues of foxes. Seroprevalence based on detection of antibodies to T. gondii was 41% (95% CI: 27-57%) using a commercially available modified agglutination test (MAT). Detection of DNA of T. gondii and larvae of Trichinella nativa (T2) occurred in 44% (95% CI: 28-60%) and 36% (95% CI: 21-51%) of foxes, respectively. Coinfection with both T. nativa and T. gondii occurred among 23% (95%CI: 13-38%) of foxes which can be attributed to co-transmission from prey and scavenged species in their diet. There was only moderate agreement between T. gondii serology and direct detection of T. gondii DNA using the MC-PCR technique (Kappa test statistic: 0.321), suggesting that using both methods in tandem can increase the sensitivity of detection for this parasite. These findings show that foxes are good sentinels for circulation of parasitic zoonoses in terrestrial northern ecosystems since they are highly exposed, show measurable indicators of infection and do not serve as exposure sources for humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bachand Nicholas
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4, Canada
| | - A. Ravel
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - P. Leighton
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - C. Stephen
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4, Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - A. Iqbal
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, J.D. MacLean Tropical Diseases Centre, McGill University, Montréal, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - M. Ndao
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, J.D. MacLean Tropical Diseases Centre, McGill University, Montréal, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - K. Konecsni
- Centre for Foodborne and Animal Parasitology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Saskatoon Laboratory, 116 Veterinary Rd., Saskatoon, S7N 2R3, Canada
| | - C. Fernando
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4, Canada
| | - E. Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kornacka A, Cybulska A, Moskwa B. Comparison of sensitivity of two primer sets for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in wildlife. Acta Parasitol 2018; 63:634-639. [PMID: 29975648 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2018-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a coccidian parasite known to infect almost all warm-blooded animals, is the cause of one of the most common zoonotic parasitic diseases. The aim of the study is to determine whether the 529 bp fragment or the TGR1E gene is more useful target for PCR identification of T. gondii, for common use. The brains of 221 carnivores and omnivores collected between 2013 and 2015 from north-eastern Poland were examined for the presence of this parasite. The DNA was extracted and then amplified using specific primers. Positive results were obtained in 24% of brain samples using the TGR1E target and 19% using the 529 bp sequence. The results demonstrate that both TGR1E and 529 bp repeat element are suitable for detecting T. gondii DNA in wildlife animals, and the combination of two methods is necessary to obtain reliable results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kornacka
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Cybulska
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bożena Moskwa
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang XL, Dong L, Zhang L, Lv Y, Li Q, Li HL. Seroprevalence and Genetic Characterization ofToxoplasma gondiiIn Naturally Infected Synanthropic Rodents In Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. J Parasitol 2018; 104:383-387. [DOI: 10.1645/17-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Lei Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
- Jinci College of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province 030025, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Dong
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Lv
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Long Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province 671000, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Molecular Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Red Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes). J Wildl Dis 2018; 54:825-828. [PMID: 29733765 DOI: 10.7589/2017-09-240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi are important infectious agents, with T. gondii and E. cuniculi having zoonotic potential. There are two main clonal lineages (types I and II) of T. gondii in Europe, but little is known about genotypes of T. gondii in wild animals. The aim of our study was molecular detection of these three pathogens in tissues of wild red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) from the Czech Republic. Using PCR (B1 gene), we detected T. gondii in 10% of the animals that we tested ( n=100); N. caninum and E. cuniculi were not detected. The T. gondii samples were genotyped by single multiplex PCR assay with 15 microsatellite markers. Five samples were successfully genotyped as genotype II, a unique finding for T. gondii isolated from red foxes from the Czech Republic.
Collapse
|
23
|
Battisti E, Zanet S, Trisciuoglio A, Bruno S, Ferroglio E. Circulating genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in Northwestern Italy. Vet Parasitol 2018; 253:43-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
24
|
Schares G, Bangoura B, Randau F, Goroll T, Ludewig M, Maksimov P, Matzkeit B, Sens M, Bärwald A, Conraths F, Opsteegh M, Van der Giessen J. High seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and probability of detecting tissue cysts in backyard laying hens compared with hens from large free-range farms. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:765-777. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
25
|
Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:2335-2340. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5518-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
26
|
Krücken J, Blümke J, Maaz D, Demeler J, Ramünke S, Antolová D, Schaper R, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Small rodents as paratenic or intermediate hosts of carnivore parasites in Berlin, Germany. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172829. [PMID: 28278269 PMCID: PMC5344343 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are important intermediate and paratenic hosts for carnivore parasites, including the important zoonotic agents Toxoplasma, Echinococcus and Toxocara. Monitoring of such parasites in rodents can be used to detect increasing risks for human and veterinary public health. Rodents were trapped at four sites in Berlin, two near the city center, two at the periphery. PCRs were conducted to detect Coccidia (target ITS-1) and specifically Toxoplasma gondii (repetitive element) in brain and ascarids (ITS-2) in muscle or brain tissue. During necropsies, metacestodes were collected and identified using ITS-2 and 12S rRNA PCRs. An ELISA to detect antibodies against Toxocara canis ES antigens was performed. Within the 257 examined rodents, the most frequently observed parasite was Frenkelia glareoli predominantly found in Myodes glareolus. T. gondii was only detected in 12 rodents and Microtus spp. (although strongly underrepresented) had a significantly increased chance of being positive. Neither Echinococcus nor typical Taenia parasites of dogs and cats were found but Mesocestoides litteratus and Taenia martis metacestodes were identified which can cause severe peritoneal or ocular cysticercosis in dogs, primates and humans. Using PCR, the ascarids T. canis (n = 8), Toxocara cati (4) and Parascaris sp. (1) were detected predominantly in muscles. Seroprevalence of T. canis was 14.2% and ELISA was thus more sensitive than PCR to detect infection with this parasite. Non-parametric multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis revealed that parasite communities could be grouped into an urban and a peri-urban cluster with high frequency of ascarid-positive rodents in urban and high frequency of F. glareoli in peri-urban sites. Prevalence rates of parasites in rodents with potential impact for human or veterinary public health are considerable and the monitoring of transmission cycles of carnivore parasites in intermediate rodent hosts is recommended to estimate the health risks arising from wild and domesticated carnivores.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Blümke
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denny Maaz
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janina Demeler
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabrina Ramünke
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Vilares A, Gargaté MJ, Ferreira I, Martins S, Gomes JP. Molecular and virulence characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from humans in Portugal. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:979-985. [PMID: 28138769 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5374-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis which infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals and birds. The majority of studies conducted in Europe have revealed that more than 80 % of strains isolated from human infections belong to genotype II, whereas genotypes I and III are responsible for a small number of cases. Atypical and recombinant strains are generally associated with more severe infections. In Portugal, there is a lack of data concerning genetic diversity as the classical typing studies in humans have never been performed. We aimed to determine the Sag2 and microsatellite-based (TUB2, TgM-A, W35, B17, B18) genotypes of T. gondii isolated from humans in Portugal, as well as to study their virulence in mice. We analyzed 48 strains from congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis collected during the last two decades. Sag2-based genotyping of T. gondii was achieved in all 48 strains where 35 (73 %) were classified as type II and 13 (27 %) were type I. The multilocus PCR of five microsatellites allowed the classification of 10 strains (21 %) as recombinant strains that had been previously identified as type II or I by Sag2 typing. Seven out of the 48 strains, including three type I, three recombinant, and one type I, were virulent in mice. This study constitutes the first evidence of recombinant strains circulating in Portugal in humans from congenital infection, highlighting the need for a better evaluation of these strains as their phenotype is still barely understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Vilares
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Gargaté
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Idalina Ferreira
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Martins
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Research and Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.,Bioinformatics Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Reiterová K, Špilovská S, Čobádiová A, Hurníková Z. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in red foxes in Slovakia. Acta Parasitol 2016; 61:762-768. [PMID: 27787208 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2016-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Sera or meat juices of 177 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) originated from the localities of a human-influenced landscape (Group 1) and 126 foxes from the protected mountain region (Group 2) of Slovakia, collected during 2010-2014 were tested for the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using indirect ELISA and Neospora caninum by competitive ELISA. The tissue and uncoagulated blood samples were examined for the presence of the parasite's DNA. The total seropositivity to T. gondii was 62.7% (190/303) and to N. caninum 26.4% (80/303). In the Group 1 antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 74.0% (131/177) and to N. caninum in 38.9% (69/177). In the Group 2 significantly lower seropositivity of 46.8% (59/126) to T. gondii antigens (P = 0.0218) and 8.7% (11/126) to N. caninum (P = 0.0001) was detected, respectively. However, by using molecular method, the presence of both parasites, was recorded less frequently. While in Group 1 T. gondii DNA was detected in 10.0% and N. caninum DNA in 18.3% of examined samples, in Group 2 T. gondii DNA was not detected at all and N. caninum was detected in 9.1% samples only. Results indicate that examined infections are highly common in the red foxes in Slovakia and are widespread in the locations of Eastern Slovakia bordering Poland, Ukraine and Hungary. The high infection rate in foxes representing reservoir hosts, presumably originates from their infected prey, ungulate carcasses, or from residual infected tissues in the hunting grounds after evisceration of shot animals during a hunting season.
Collapse
|
29
|
Kornacka A, Cybulska A, Bień J, Goździk K, Moskwa B. The usefulness of direct agglutination test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in wild animals. Vet Parasitol 2016; 228:85-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
30
|
Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti in a wildlife conservation area in southern Portugal. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2016; 3-4:7-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
31
|
Spread and genotype of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra). Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2115-20. [PMID: 26960960 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4981-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The complex life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii involves many animal species, raising zoonotic, economic, and conservation issues. This complexity is reflected in the molecular structure of T. gondii, whose different genotypes differ in pathogenicity. Among the intermediate hosts of T. gondii, wild ungulates may be a source of human infection. Despite intense hunting activity and the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, little information is available on the spread of T. gondii and the distribution of its genotypes in these species, including the alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra). Ninety-three sera and 50 brain tissues from chamois were sampled (1) to investigate the spread of T. gondii with serological and molecular analyses, and (2) to genotype the strains with a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the SAG2 locus. The prevalence of T. gondii was low on both serological (3.2 %) and molecular (2 %) analyses, and infections were concentrated in individuals >1 year old. These findings demonstrate the sporadic presence of the protozoan in this species on consistent diagnostic tests. Horizontal transmission seems to be the main route of infection, and cats are the only definitive host in the study area. This prevalence suggests that the environment of the chamois is less contaminated with oocysts than environments close to human settlements. The SAG2 type II genotype was detected in this species for the first time. Although this genotype is predominant in human toxoplasmosis, these results suggest that the chamois is a minor source of human infection.
Collapse
|
32
|
Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria and Israel reveals higher genetic variability within the type II lineage. Parasitology 2015; 142:948-57. [PMID: 25677825 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015000050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study compared genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria and Israel. For this, we genotyped 90 T. gondii isolates (16 from Portugal, 67 from Austria and 7 from Israel) using 10 nested PCR-restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) genetic markers and 15 microsatellite (MS) markers. By PCR-RFLP typing, 7 isolates from Portugal chickens were identified as type II (ToxoDB #1 or #3), 4 were type III (ToxoDB #2) and the remaining 4 isolates have unique genotype pattern were designated as ToxoDB #254. One mouse virulent isolate from a bovine fetus (Bos taurus) in Portugal was type I (ToxoDB #10) at all loci and designated as TgCowPr1. All 67 isolates from Austria and 7 from Israel were type II (ToxoDB #1 or #3). By MS typing, many additional genetic variations were revealed among the type II and type III isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates from the same geographical locations tend to cluster together, and there is little overlapping of genotypes among different locations. This study demonstrated that the MS markers can provide higher discriminatory power to reveal association of genotypes with geographical locations. Future studies of the type II strains in Europe by these MS markers will be useful to reveal transmission patterns of the parasite.
Collapse
|
33
|
Prevalence and Genotype Identification ofToxoplasma gondiiin Wild Animals from Southwestern Spain. J Wildl Dis 2015; 51:233-8. [DOI: 10.7589/2013-09-233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
34
|
Prevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiin localized populations ofApodemus sylvaticusis linked to population genotype not to population location. Parasitology 2014; 142:680-90. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014001760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYToxoplasma gondiiis a globally distributed parasite infecting humans and warm-blooded animals. Although many surveys have been conducted forT. gondiiinfection in mammals, little is known about the detailed distribution in localized natural populations. In this study, host genotype and spatial location were investigated in relation toT. gondiiinfection. Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were collected from 4 sampling sites within a localized peri-aquatic woodland ecosystem. Mice were genotyped using standardA. sylvaticusmicrosatellite markers andT. gondiiwas detected using 4 specific PCR-based markers: SAG1, SAG2, SAG3 and GRA6 directly from infected tissue. Of 126 wood mice collected, 44 samples were positive giving an infection rate of 34·92% (95% CI: 27·14–43·59%). Juvenile, young adults and adults were infected at a similar prevalence, respectively, 7/17 (41·18%), 27/65 (41·54%) and 10/44 (22·72%) with no significant age-prevalence effect (P = 0·23). Results of genetic analysis of the mice showed that the collection consists of 4 genetically distinct populations. There was a significant difference inT. gondiiprevalence in the different genotypically derived mouse populations (P = 0·035) but not between geographically defined populations (P = 0·29). These data point to either a host genetic/family influence on parasite infection or to parasite vertical transmission.
Collapse
|
35
|
Schlüter D, Däubener W, Schares G, Groß U, Pleyer U, Lüder C. Animals are key to human toxoplasmosis. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:917-29. [PMID: 25240467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely sucessfull protozoal parasite which infects almost all mamalian species including humans. Approximately 30% of the human population worldwide is chronically infected with T. gondii. In general, human infection is asymptomatic but the parasite may induce severe disease in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. In addition, T. gondii may cause sight-threatening posterior uveitis in immunocompetent patients. Apart from few exceptions, humans acquire T. gondii from animals. Both, the oral uptake of T. gondii oocysts released by specific hosts, i.e. felidae, and of cysts persisting in muscle cells of animals result in human toxoplasmosis. In the present review, we discuss recent new data on the cell biology of T. gondii and parasite diversity in animals. In addition, we focus on the impact of these various parasite strains and their different virulence on the clinical outcome of human congenital toxoplasmosis and T. gondii uveitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schlüter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Walter Däubener
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Pleyer
- Eye Clinic, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Herrmann DC, Maksimov P, Hotop A, Groß U, Däubener W, Liesenfeld O, Pleyer U, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Genotyping of samples from German patients with ocular, cerebral and systemic toxoplasmosis reveals a predominance of Toxoplasma gondii type II. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:911-6. [PMID: 25037927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis transmitted from animals to humans world-wide. In order to determine Toxoplasma gondii genotypes in individuals living in Germany and to compare findings with those in animals, we analysed nine independent and unlinked genetic markers (nSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) by PCR-RFLP in 83 archived T. gondii-positive DNA samples from patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (n=35), toxoplasmic encephalitis (n=32), systemic toxoplasmosis after bone-marrow transplantation (n=15) and congenital toxoplasmosis (n=1). In 46 of these 83 samples the presence of T. gondii DNA was confirmed by conventional end-point PCR. Among these, 17 T. gondii-positive samples were typed at all nine loci. The majority (15/17, 88.2%) of these samples were of T. gondii type II (i.e., including both, the Apico type II and Apico type I variants). In addition, in one sample a T. gondii type II/type III allele combination and in another sample a T. gondii genotype displaying type III alleles at all markers was observed. In the remaining 11 samples, in which T. gondii could only be partially typed, exclusively type II (n=10) or type III (n=1) alleles were observed. Results of the present study suggest that the majority of patients in Germany are infected with type II T. gondii regardless of the clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis. This finding is in accord with the predominance of type II T. gondii in oocysts isolated from cats and in tissues of other intermediate hosts in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daland C Herrmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Andrea Hotop
- German National Consulting Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- German National Consulting Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Walter Däubener
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Pleyer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz J Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Evidence for genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in selected intermediate hosts in Serbia. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 37:173-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
38
|
Ferroglio E, Bosio F, Trisciuoglio A, Zanet S. Toxoplasma gondii in sympatric wild herbivores and carnivores: epidemiology of infection in the Western Alps. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:196. [PMID: 24766665 PMCID: PMC4012061 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that is able to infect almost all warm blooded animals. In Europe, the domestic cat is the main definitive host. Worldwide, 6 billion people are infected with this parasite. The goal of our research is to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in wild animals from a previously unsampled area in Northern Italy where 0.1% of women seroconvert during pregnancy each year. Methods We sampled and tested skeletal muscle and central nervous system tissue of 355 wild animals by PCR (n = 121 roe deer Capreolus capreolus, n = 105 wild boar Sus scrofa, n = 94 red fox Vulpes vulpes, n = 22 alpine chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, n = 13 red deer Cervus elaphus). Results The overall prevalence of infection with T. gondii was 10.99% (confidence interval (CI) 95% 8.14%-14.67%). A higher rate of infection was recorded in carnivores and omnivores (red fox 20.21%, CI 95% 13.34%-29.43%; wild boar 16.19%, CI 95% 10.36%-24.41%) compared to ruminants (2.48%, CI 95% 0.85%-7.04% in roe deer; 0.00%, CI 95% 0.00%-22.81% in red deer, and 0.00% alpine chamois (CI 95% 0.00%-14.87%) confirming the importance of tissue cysts in transmitting infection. Conclusions The relatively high prevalence of T. gondii DNA in highly consumed game species (wild boar and roe deer) gives valuable insights into T. gondii epidemiology and may contribute to improve prevention and control of foodborne toxoplasmosis in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Ferroglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, via L, da Vinci 44 10095, Grugliasco, (TO), Italy.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Maksimov P, Zerweck J, Dubey JP, Pantchev N, Frey CF, Maksimov A, Reimer U, Schutkowski M, Hosseininejad M, Ziller M, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis domesticus) reveals predominance of type II infections in Germany. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80213. [PMID: 24244652 PMCID: PMC3820565 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cats are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and play an essential role in the epidemiology of this parasite. The study aims at clarifying whether cats are able to develop specific antibodies against different clonal types of T. gondii and to determine by serotyping the T. gondii clonal types prevailing in cats as intermediate hosts in Germany. Methodology To establish a peptide-microarray serotyping test, we identified 24 suitable peptides using serological T. gondii positive (n=21) and negative cat sera (n=52). To determine the clonal type-specific antibody response of cats in Germany, 86 field sera from T. gondii seropositive naturally infected cats were tested. In addition, we analyzed the antibody response in cats experimentally infected with non-canonical T. gondii types (n=7). Findings Positive cat reference sera reacted predominantly with peptides harbouring amino acid sequences specific for the clonal T. gondii type the cats were infected with. When the array was applied to field sera from Germany, 98.8% (85/86) of naturally-infected cats recognized similar peptide patterns as T. gondii type II reference sera and showed the strongest reaction intensities with clonal type II-specific peptides. In addition, naturally infected cats recognized type II-specific peptides significantly more frequently than peptides of other type-specificities. Cats infected with non-canonical types showed the strongest reactivity with peptides presenting amino-acid sequences specific for both, type I and type III. Conclusions Cats are able to mount a clonal type-specific antibody response against T. gondii. Serotyping revealed for most seropositive field sera patterns resembling those observed after clonal type II-T. gondii infection. This finding is in accord with our previous results on the occurrence of T. gondii clonal types in oocysts shed by cats in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
| | | | - Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, USDA, ARS, ANRI, BARC-East, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- Vet Med Labor GmbH, Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Caroline F. Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aline Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ulf Reimer
- JPT, Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Institute for Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Department of Enzymology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Mario Ziller
- Workgroup Biomathematics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Congenital Toxoplasmosis in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Identification of theToxoplasma gondiiTypes Involved. J Wildl Dis 2013; 49:1019-23. [DOI: 10.7589/2013-01-024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
41
|
Evidence of the three main clonalToxoplasma gondiilineages from wild mammalian carnivores in the UK. Parasitology 2013; 140:1768-76. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYToxoplasma gondiiis a zoonotic pathogen defined by three main clonal lineages (types I, II, III), of which type II is most common in Europe. Very few data exist on the prevalence and genotypes ofT. gondiiin the UK. Wildlife can act as sentinel species forT. gondiigenotypes present in the environment, which may subsequently be transmitted to livestock and humans. DNA was extracted from tissue samples of wild British carnivores, including 99 ferrets, 83 red foxes, 70 polecats, 65 mink, 64 badgers and 9 stoats. Parasite DNA was detected using a nested ITS1 PCR specific forT. gondii, PCR positive samples were subsequently genotyped using five PCR–RFLP markers.Toxoplasma gondiiDNA was detected within all these mammal species and prevalence varied from 6·0 to 44·4% depending on the host. PCR–RFLP genotyping identified type II as the predominant lineage, but type III and type I alleles were also identified. No atypical or mixed genotypes were identified within these animals. This study demonstrates the presence of alleles for all three clonal lineages with potential for transmission to cats and livestock. This is the first DNA-based study ofT. gondiiprevalence and genotypes across a broad range of wild British carnivores.
Collapse
|
42
|
Wang L, Chen H, Liu D, Huo X, Gao J, Song X, Xu X, Huang K, Liu W, Wang Y, Lu F, Lun ZR, Luo Q, Wang X, Shen J. Genotypes and mouse virulence of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from animals and humans in China. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53483. [PMID: 23308233 PMCID: PMC3538538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent population structure studies of T. gondii revealed that a few major clonal lineages predominated in different geographical regions. T. gondii in South America is genetically and biologically divergent, whereas this parasite is remarkably clonal in North America and Europe with a few major lineages including Types I, II and III. Information on genotypes and mouse virulence of T. gondii isolates from China is scarce and insufficient to investigate its population structure, evolution, and transmission. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Genotyping of 23 T. gondii isolates from different hosts using 10 markers for PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) revealed five genotypes; among them three genotypes were atypical and two were archetypal. Fifteen strains belong to the Chinese 1 lineage, which has been previously reported as a widespread lineage from swine, cats, and humans in China. Two human isolates fall into the type I and II lineages and the remaining isolates belong to two new atypical genotypes (ToxoDB#204 and #205) which has never been reported in China. Our results show that these genotypes of T. gondii isolates are intermediately or highly virulent in mice except for the strain TgCtwh6, which maintained parasitemia in mice for 35 days post infection although it possesses the uniform genotype of Chinese 1. Additionally, phylogenetic network analyses of all isolates of genotype Chinese 1 are identical, and there is no variation based on the sequence data generated for four introns (EF1, HP2, UPRT1 and UPRT7) and two dense granule proteins (GRA6 and GRA7). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE A limited genetic diversity was found and genotype Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9) is dominantly circulating in mainland China. The results will provide a useful profile for deep insight to the population structure, epidemiology and biological characteristics of T. gondii in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - He Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Daohua Liu
- Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases Control Anhui, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xingxing Huo
- Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiangmei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, the Key laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control, the Ministry of Education, and the Department of Parasitology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaorong Song
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiucai Xu
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kaiquan Huang
- Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenqi Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fangli Lu
- Department of Parasitology, and the Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhao-Rong Lun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, the Key laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control, the Ministry of Education, and the Department of Parasitology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingli Luo
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xuelong Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Department of Parasitology, Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Genetic characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from European beavers (Castor fiber) and European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris). Vet Parasitol 2013; 191:108-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
44
|
Herrmann DC, Bärwald A, Maksimov A, Pantchev N, Vrhovec MG, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Toxoplasma gondii sexual cross in a single naturally infected feline host: generation of highly mouse-virulent and avirulent clones, genotypically different from clonal types I, II and III. Vet Res 2012; 43:39. [PMID: 22546040 PMCID: PMC3443434 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tachyzoite clones obtained from a single Toxoplasma gondii oocyst field sample were genotyped and characterized regarding mouse virulence. PCR-RFLP genotyping of tachyzoites initially isolated from interferon-γ-knockout (GKO) mice, BALB/c mice and VERO cell culture using the nine independent, unlinked genetic markers nSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico revealed mixed T. gondii infections showing combinations of type II and type III alleles at different loci. Forty-five individual clones were obtained from all mixed T. gondii tachyzoite cell cultures by limiting dilution. Sixteen T. gondii clones showed type III alleles at all loci and 29 clones displayed a combination of type II and type III alleles at different loci. Five clone groups were identified in total, four of which include T. gondii clones that showed a non-canonical allele pattern and have never been described in natural infections before. All tested clones, except two, were highly virulent in BALB/c mice. The isolation of different non-canonical T. gondii clones originating from an oocyst sample of a single naturally infected cat demonstrate that sexual recombination as well as re-assortment of chromosomes via a sexual cross of T. gondii occur under natural conditions and result in the emergence of clones with increased virulence in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daland C Herrmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Seestr, 55, 16868, Wusterhausen, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|