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Bokaba RP, Dermauw V, Morar-Leather D, Dorny P, Van Schalkwyk L, Neves L. An investigation into Toxoplasma gondii at the human-livestock-wildlife interface, South Africa. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2024; 91:e1-e8. [PMID: 38708768 PMCID: PMC11079330 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v91i1.2130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Interface areas shared by humans, domestic and wild animals may serve as high transmission contexts for Toxoplasma gondii. However, knowledge about the epidemiology of T. gondii in such areas is currently limited. The present study assessed the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different hosts from Mpumalanga, South Africa. Furthermore, we investigated the local knowledge and related practices about T. gondii by conducting a questionnaire study in the community. Blood samples were obtained and analysed for T. gondii antibodies using a commercial multispecies latex agglutination kit. The seroprevalence detected in humans (n = 160; patients showing signs of acute febrile illness), cats (n = 9), chickens (n = 336) and goats (n = 358) was 8.8%, 0.0%, 4.2% and 11.2%, respectively. Seroprevalence in impalas (n = 97), kudus (n = 55), wild dogs (n = 54), wildebeests (n = 43), warthogs (n = 97) and zebras (n = 68) was calculated at 5.2%, 7.3%, 100.0%, 20.9%, 13.4% and 9.1%, respectively. The questionnaire revealed that 63.0% of household owners were subsistence farmers, and 35.9% were pet owners. A high level of female participation was found (75.3%) when compared to male participation (24.7%). The results show a low circulation of T. gondii in the domestic cycle and suggest the presence of possible bridges between the wildlife cycle and the surrounding domestic cycle.Contribution: The study contributes to identifying transmission patterns and risk factors of T. gondii within human and animal populations. This topic fits within the scope of the journal presenting original research in veterinary science, with the focus on wild and domestic populations on the African continent on a topic of universal importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Refilwe P Bokaba
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
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Rahman SU, Akbar H, Shabbir MZ, Ullah U, Rashid MI. Newly optimized ELISA kit and LAT reveal significantly higher seroprevalence in sheep raised in agro-ecological zone as against range-ecological zone, with a significant association of meteorological parameters. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290374. [PMID: 38051753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic and foodborne intracellular parasite capable of inducing congenital infections, stillbirths and abortions in humans and animals, globally. The consumption of undercooked or raw mutton is "one of the vital risks" for acquiring toxoplasmosis: an asymptomatic condition in healthy persons, while life-threatening in immunodeficient individuals like "HIV/AIDS" patients. OBJECTIVES The current study has multiple objectives: to optimize a newly ELISA kit for Sheep, to find out the seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis of two ecological zones of the Punjab, Pakistan through LAT and newly Optimized Sheep ELISA kit, to do the comparison of efficacies of various tests (LAT with newly Optimized ELISA kit and newly Optimized ELISA kit with commercial ELISA kit) and to determine the different meteorological parameters as the risk factors for T. gondii infection in sheep. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 sheep sera, 200 were collected from sheep raised on open grazing system by local farmers in the adjoining areas of Civil Veterinary Dispensaries (CVDs) of range-ecological zone i.e. tehsil Kot Chutta (Dera Ghazi khan). Similarly, the remaining 200 were collected from agro-ecological zone i.e. tehsil Sharaqpur (Sheikhupura), to evaluate the comparative efficacy of LAT with optimized ELISA kit and newly optimized ELISA kit with commercial ELISA kit. FINDINGS The newly ELISA kit optimized against a commercial ELISA kit was found to have 100% sensitivity, 97.6% specificity with 98% Positive Predictive Value, 100% Negative Predictive Value, Cut off value = 0.505, 28.28 LR+, 0.0104 LR-, and 2719.23 DOR. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was detected significantly (P < 0.01; χ2) higher in Sharaqpur (44.5% by LAT; 35.5% by ELISA) as compared to that in Kot Chutta (39.5% by LAT; 31% by ELISA). The highest seroprevalence was seen in the sheep of the 1-2 years age group (P < 0.01; χ2), whereas the lowest in the oldest animals (≥ 4 years). Investigation of meteorological data of both the regions reveals that the zone with higher seroprevalence has relatively higher rainfall, higher humidity, lower environmental temperatures, and higher altitude as the critical factors, potentially behind the significant difference seen in seroprevalence level. The partial correlation of both tests (newly optimized ELISA kit and LAT) was 0.991 at maximum temperature in Sharaqpur while it was 0.981 in Kot Chutta. INTERPRETATION A novel significant correlation was found between the meteorological parameters (relative humidity, minimum, maximum, and average temperatures) divided into yearly units of both the ecological zones, and year-wise seroprevalence (birth years of age-wise groups) of the corresponding regions. We hypothesize that such environmental conditions increase the risk of toxoplasmosis in grazing sheep, owing to a more favorable environment for coccidian oocyst survival. The ELISA kit optimized in this study will be helpful for the detection of seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis in other ecological zones of Pakistan as well as of any other country in the world. More studies are recommended involving regions from other ecological zones of Pakistan to further explore the seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis and to ratify the novel correlation of meteorological parameters with seroprevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarfraz Ur Rahman
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Haroon Akbar
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Ubaid Ullah
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran Rashid
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Parasitology, Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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Cruciani D, Crotti S, Paoloni D, La Morgia V, Felici A, Papa P, Cosseddu GM, Moscati L, Gobbi P. Health Status of the Eastern Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) Population in Umbria: Results of the LIFE Project 'U-SAVEREDS'. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202741. [PMID: 36290127 PMCID: PMC9597752 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Invasive alien species are non-native species introduced deliberately or unintentionally beyond their past or present natural distribution, and their introduction and spread threatens local biological diversity. The Eastern grey squirrel is native to North America and was introduced to the British Islands, Italy, and South Africa. Around the year 2000, a new population of grey squirrels was recorded in Perugia, central Italy, where the species populated an area of approximately 50 km2, both in woodland and urban areas. The Eastern grey squirrel represents a huge threat to the conservation of the native Eurasian red squirrel when the two species coexist. Moreover, given their confident behaviour with humans, the non-native squirrels can negatively impact public health. The U-SAVEREDS Project was set up for Eurasian red squirrel conservation in Umbria through the eradication of the alien species and it also provided information on the health status of the Eastern grey squirrel to identify any infectious agents. The recovery of zoonotic pathogens allowed to assess the Eastern grey squirrel’s impact on human and domestic and wild animals’ health, provide helpful feedback for the management and eradication procedures, and raise public awareness through environmental education. Abstract The introduction of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe is one of the best-known cases of invasive alien species (IAS) colonisation, that poses a severe risk to the conservation of biodiversity. In 2003, it was released in a private wildlife park near the city of Perugia (Italy), where it is replacing the native Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). The LIFE13 BIO/IT/000204 Project (U-SAVEREDS) was set up for the Sciurus vulgaris conservation in Umbria through an eradication campaign of grey squirrels. One hundred and fifty-four animals were analysed for bacteriological, mycological, virological, and serological investigations (C4 action). Sanitary screening showed that Sciurus carolinensis is a dermatophyte carrier, and therefore, it could cause public health issues for humans, considering its confident behaviour. Moreover, it has been marginally responsible for the spreading of Candida albicans, Coxiella burnetii, and Borrelia lusitaniae. Health status evaluation conducted on the Sciurus carolinensis population indicated that it is necessary to raise awareness of its impacts on biodiversity and human health. Moreover, the health status and behaviours of the IAS must be considered when control or eradication campaigns are planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Cruciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Crotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Valentina La Morgia
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Felici
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Paola Papa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Gian Mario Cosseddu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Roma, Italy
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Livia Moscati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Paola Gobbi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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Akbar H, Shabbir MZ, Ullah U, Rashid MI. Serological Investigation of Bovine Toxoplasmosis Using Commercial and Indigenous ELISA Kits While Validating Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA Kit. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162067. [PMID: 36009657 PMCID: PMC9405383 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by T. gondii infection. The main aims of this study were to assess the seropositivity to toxoplasmosis of an exotic breed of cattle (n = 400) from different farms using the Latex Agglutination Test, validate the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit with the help of the commercially available ELISA kit and compare the efficacy of the LAT and Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit for assessing seropositivity of cattle to toxoplasmosis. Four hundred cattle sera were collected from an exotic breed of cattle in Pakistan. These sera were evaluated through an LAT and Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit. Of 400 samples, 90 were elected and screened through a commercially available ELISA kit. The sensitivity and specificity of the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit came out to be 100% and 96.15%, and in LAT, it was found as 26.31% and 61.53%, respectively. The Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit revealed 29.75% (119/400) seropositivity, 6% less than that found through LAT. The results of this study show that Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit is a highly accurate and reliable serodiagnostic tool to diagnose bovine toxoplasmosis. Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded vertebrates, globally. The main aims of this study were to assess the seropositivity to toxoplasmosis of an exotic breed of cattle (n = 400) from different farms using the Latex Agglutination Test and validate Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit. Of a total of 400 cattle sera that were evaluated by LAT, 143 (35.75%) were found positive. Based on these data, 90 samples (n = 60 seronegative by LAT; n = 30 seropositive by LAT) were elected for screening through a commercially available ELISA kit. The same 90 samples were screened through a Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit for validation purposes. Of 90 samples, 40 were seropositive in the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit (100% sensitivity), and 38 were seropositive in a commercially available ELISA kit. All 50 samples in the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit (96.15% specificity) were also seronegative in the commercially available ELISA kit. Hence, the sensitivity and specificity of the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit came out to be 100% and 96.15%, and in LAT, it was found as 26.31% and 61.53%, respectively. Therefore, the Cattle Toxo IgG ELISA kit is a highly reliable serodiagnostic tool to diagnose bovine toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haroon Akbar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (S.-u.-R.); (H.A.)
| | - Muhammad Zubair Shabbir
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Ubaid Ullah
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
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Peptide Linked Diacetylene Amphiphiles for Detection of Epitope Specific Antibodies. CHEMOSENSORS 2022; 10. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10020062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies produced in response to adaptive immunity provide a receptor with multiple sites for binding to a distinct epitope of an antigen. Determining antibody levels to specific antigens has important clinical applications in assessing immune status or deficiency, monitoring infectious or autoimmune diseases, and diagnosing allergies. Leveraging that a specific antibody will bind to a distinct small peptide epitope without requiring the entire antigen to be present, we demonstrate in this work a proof-of-concept assay to detect the presence of an antibody by using peptide epitopes linked to an amphiphile to generate a vesicle-based sensing system. By affording multiple copies of the epitope site on the vesicle, we revealed that the vesicles visibly aggregate in response to an antibody specific for that epitope due to multivalent binding provided by the antibody. We also uncovered the role of peptide surface density in providing accessible epitopes on the vesicles for antibody binding. In summary, using a peptide derived from the coat protein of human influenza virus directly linked to a diacetylene-containing amphiphile afforded peptide-laden vesicles that proved capable of detecting the presence of antibodies specific for human influenza hemagglutinin.
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Luo Y, Joung HA, Esparza S, Rao J, Garner O, Ozcan A. Quantitative particle agglutination assay for point-of-care testing using mobile holographic imaging and deep learning. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3550-3558. [PMID: 34292287 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00467k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Particle agglutination assays are widely adopted immunological tests that are based on antigen-antibody interactions. Antibody-coated microscopic particles are mixed with a test sample that potentially contains the target antigen, as a result of which the particles form clusters, with a size that is a function of the antigen concentration and the reaction time. Here, we present a quantitative particle agglutination assay that combines mobile lens-free microscopy and deep learning for rapidly measuring the concentration of a target analyte; as its proof-of-concept, we demonstrate high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) testing using human serum samples. A dual-channel capillary lateral flow device is designed to host the agglutination reaction using 4 μL of serum sample with a material cost of 1.79 cents per test. A mobile lens-free microscope records time-lapsed inline holograms of the lateral flow device, monitoring the agglutination process over 3 min. These captured holograms are processed, and at each frame the number and area of the particle clusters are automatically extracted and fed into shallow neural networks to predict the CRP concentration. 189 measurements using 88 unique patient serum samples were utilized to train, validate and blindly test our platform, which matched the corresponding ground truth concentrations in the hs-CRP range (0-10 μg mL-1) with an R2 value of 0.912. This computational sensing platform was also able to successfully differentiate very high CRP concentrations (e.g., >10-500 μg mL-1) from the hs-CRP range. This mobile, cost-effective and quantitative particle agglutination assay can be useful for various point-of-care sensing needs and global health related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luo
- Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Bioengineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Hyou-Arm Joung
- Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Bioengineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Sarah Esparza
- Bioengineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Jingyou Rao
- Computer Science Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Omai Garner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Bioengineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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Maspi N, Nayeri T, Moosazadeh M, Sarvi S, Sharif M, Daryani A. Global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Camelidae: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:733-744. [PMID: 33666861 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-020-00333-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study aimed to analyze data available of the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) among camelids around the world. METHODS The search was performed using seven international databases including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and EMBASE up to 11 October 2018. Random effects model was used to determine the pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii infection with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and analyzed data from four continents. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were also performed according to continent and gender. RESULTS In total, 42 studies out of 3517 published articles involving 14,542 camels from 17 countries were included for the final analyses. The global pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in the Camelidae family was 28.16% (95% CI 23.64-32.68%). Besides, the highest seroprevalence rate was in Europe (49.64%) followed by Africa (37.63%), America (21.76%), and Asia (17.58%). Moreover, the overall seroprevalence rates of T. gondii infection were 22% (95% CI 10-33%) and 15% (95% CI 9-22%) for the females and males, respectively. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis showed a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in camelids as these animals play an important role in the transmission cycle of this zoonotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahid Maspi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Paramedicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Tooran Nayeri
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, 48168-95475, Iran
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahmood Moosazadeh
- Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, 48168-95475, Iran
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Sari Branch, Islamic AZAD University, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, 48168-95475, Iran.
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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Development of Human Toxo IgG ELISA Kit, and False-Positivity of Latex Agglutination Test for the Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091111. [PMID: 34578144 PMCID: PMC8465318 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular zoonotic parasite that causes infection in a wide range of warm-blooded animals and humans. The main aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the recombinant SAG1 antigen (rSAG1) for T. gondii-IgG screening through the Human Toxo IgG ELISA Kit (K). The rSAG1 was expressed in E. coli (DE3), and it was purified through metal-affinity chromatography. The rSAG1 was confirmed by immunoblotting, and it had a band on 35 kDa. Total of 400 human sera were tested by LAT and K. One hundred and twenty-two (30.5%) sera were found positive by LAT and eighty-nine (22.25%) sera were found positive by K. Out of 400 samples, 80 were selected to evaluate the performance of K through commercial Toxoplasma gondii IgG ELISA Kit (C). Out of 80 human sera, 55 (68.75%) were found positive, 25 (31.25%) were found negative by K and C, respectively. The cut-off value for K was 0.398 and it was calculated through the receiver operator characteristic curve. The ELISA plates were coated at optimized concentration of rSAG1 = 0.125 µg/mL, and the test was performed by diluting the sera at 1:50. The sensitivity and specificity of K were observed to be 98.5% and 100%, respectively. The six sera (K−L+) were found positive through LAT and these human sera were later evaluated by Western blot analysis. These sera did not produce a band equivalent to 35 kDa on WB analysis thus, LAT produced false-positive results.
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Vishwakarma A, Lal R, Ramya M. Aptamer-based approaches for the detection of waterborne pathogens. Int Microbiol 2021; 24:125-140. [PMID: 33404933 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-020-00154-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne ailments pose a serious threat to public health and are a huge economic burden. Lack of hygiene in drinking and recreational water is the chief source of microbial pathogens in developing countries. Poor water quality and sanitation account for more than 3.4 million deaths a year worldwide. This has urged authorities and researchers to explore different avenues of pathogen detection. There is a growing demand for rapid and reliable sensor technologies, in particular those that can detect in situ and perform in harsh conditions. Some of the major waterborne pathogens include Vibrio cholerae, Leptospira interrogans, Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella spp., enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Hepatitis A virus. While conventional methods of pathogen detection like serodiagnosis and microbiological methods have been superseded by nucleic acid amplification methods, there is still potential for improvement. This review provides an insight into aptamers and their utility in the form of aptasensors. It discusses how aptamer-based approaches have emerged as a novel strategy and its advantages over more resource-intensive and complex biochemical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Vishwakarma
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur 603203, Kanchipuram, Chennai, TN, India
| | - Roshni Lal
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur 603203, Kanchipuram, Chennai, TN, India
| | - Mohandass Ramya
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur 603203, Kanchipuram, Chennai, TN, India.
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Ybañez RHD, Ybañez AP, Nishikawa Y. Review on the Current Trends of Toxoplasmosis Serodiagnosis in Humans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:204. [PMID: 32457848 PMCID: PMC7227408 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a widely distributed zoonotic infection caused by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of oocysts shed by an infected cat acting as its definitive host. The key to effective control and treatment of toxoplasmosis is prompt and accurate detection of T. gondii infection. Several laboratory diagnostic methods have been established, including the most commonly used serological assays such as the dye test (DT), direct or modified agglutination test (DAT/MAT), indirect hemagglutination test (IHA), latex agglutination test (LAT), indirect immunofluorescent test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), immunochromatographic tests (ICT), and the western blot. Nonetheless, creating specific and reliable approaches for serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection, and differentiating between acute and chronic phases of infection remains a challenge. This review provides information on the current trends in the serodiagnosis of human toxoplasmosis. It highlights the advantages of the use of recombinant proteins for serological testing and provides insight into the possible future direction of these methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rochelle Haidee D Ybañez
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Adrian P Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases at Main and College of Veterinary Medicine, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City, Philippines
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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Tagwireyi WM, Etter E, Neves L. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic animals in southeastern South Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 86:e1-e6. [PMID: 31714140 PMCID: PMC6852261 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v86i1.1688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a major neglected parasitic infection occurring in settings of extreme poverty in Africa. Apart from causing reproductive failure in animals it is also a significant zoonotic concern. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats, chickens, goats, sheep and pigs in the southeast of South Africa, of which little is known. Sera was obtained from 601 domestic animals including 109 cats, 137 chickens, 128 goats, 121 sheep and 106 pigs managed under different production systems in different agro-ecological regions and evaluated by the Toxoreagent, a latex agglutination test for T. gondii antibody detection. Household-level and animal-level data were collected by interviewing animal owners and/or herders using a closed-ended questionnaire. The study revealed an overall farm seroprevalence of 83.33% (125/150 farms) with the highest rate of infection for the parasite found in sheep with 64.46% (78/121), followed by goats with 53.91% (69/128), pigs with 33.96% (36/106), cats with 32.11% (35/109 cats) and chickens with 33.58% (46/137). The risk factors that were found to be statistically significant (p 0.05) to different species of seropositivites were age, location, climate, animal production system, rodent control, seropositive cat, cat-feed access and cat faecal disposal. The relatively high seroprevalence of T. gondii detected in this region suggests that domestic animals may pose a substantial public health risk through the consumption of T. gondii-infected raw meat as well as via contact with cat faeces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whatmore M Tagwireyi
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
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Kosec G, Hacin B, Sansom PG, Weaver G, Dewhurst E, Carter JW. Prevalence of antibody seroconversion to Toxoplasma gondii in uveitis and non-uveitis dogs. Vet Rec Open 2019; 6:e000318. [PMID: 31205724 PMCID: PMC6541104 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2018-000318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of seroconversion to Toxoplasma gondii in dogs with uveitis and dogs without uveitis. Methods In total, 135 dogs were evaluated: 51 dogs were diagnosed with uveitis, and 84 dogs were without uveitis. Latex agglutination tests were performed on all sera, and the results were evaluated. Results Overall, 7.8 and 6.0 per cent of sera were positive for the presence of anti-T gondii antibodies (dilution ≥1:64) in the groups with uveitis and non-uveitis dogs, respectively. The frequency distribution of variables (positive and negative results in the uveitis and the non-uveitis group of dogs) was tested with Fisher’s exact test. There was no statistically significant difference between groups (P=0.73). Clinical significance These findings suggest that evidence of exposure to T gondii was not significantly different between uveitis and non-uveitis groups of dogs and that the possible association between exposure to T gondii and canine uveitis requires further investigation. This study is the first to report the seroprevalence of anti-T gondii antibodies in dogs in the UK population and the first to report the seroprevalence of anti-T gondii antibodies in dogs with uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Kosec
- Ophthalmology, South Devon Veterinary Hospital, Abbotskerswell, UK
| | - Biljana Hacin
- Veterinary Faculty, National Veterinary Institute, University of Ljubljana, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Philip G Sansom
- Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter College of Engineering, Exeter, UK
| | - Gereth Weaver
- Microbiology, Axiom Veterinary Laboratories, Newton Abbot, UK
| | - Emma Dewhurst
- Clinical Pathologists Consultant, IDEXX Laboratories, Wetherby, UK
| | - James W Carter
- Ophthalmology, South Devon Veterinary Hospital, Abbotskerswell, UK
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Goertz CEC, Reichmuth C, Thometz NM, Ziel H, Boveng P. Comparative Health Assessments of Alaskan Ice Seals. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:4. [PMID: 30792982 PMCID: PMC6375287 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Pusa hispida), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals rely on seasonal sea-ice in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Many aspects of the biology and physiology of these seals are poorly known, and species-typical health parameters are not available for all species. Such information has proven difficult to obtain due to the challenges of studying Arctic seals in the wild and their minimal historic representation in aquaria. Here, we combine diagnostic information gathered between 2000 and 2017 from free-ranging seals, seals in short-term rehabilitation, and seals living in long-term human care to evaluate and compare key health parameters. For individuals in apparent good health, hematology, and blood chemistry values are reported by the source group for 10 bearded, 13 ringed, 73 spotted, and 81 ribbon seals from Alaskan waters. For a smaller set of individuals handled during veterinary or necropsy procedures, the presence of parasites and pathogens is described, as well as exposure to a variety of infectious diseases known to affect marine mammals and/or humans, with positive titers observed for Brucella, Leptospira, avian influenza, herpesvirus PhHV-1, and morbillivirus. These data provide initial baseline parameters for hematology, serum chemistries, and other species-level indicators of health that can be used to assess the condition of individual seals, inform monitoring and management efforts, and guide directed research efforts for Alaskan populations of ice-associated seals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Colleen Reichmuth
- Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, AK, United States.,Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Nicole M Thometz
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States.,Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Heather Ziel
- Polar Ecosystems Program, Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Peter Boveng
- Polar Ecosystems Program, Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States
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Luo J, Sun H, Zhao X, Wang S, Zhuo X, Yang Y, Chen X, Yao C, Du A. Development of an immunochromatographic test based on monoclonal antibodies against surface antigen 3 (TgSAG3) for rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii. Vet Parasitol 2018; 252:52-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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15
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Rostami A, Riahi SM, Fakhri Y, Saber V, Hanifehpour H, Valizadeh S, Gholizadeh M, Pouya RH, Gamble HR. The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among wild boars: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Parasitol 2017; 244:12-20. [PMID: 28917302 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis study was performed to evaluate the worldwide seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among wild boar. We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar databases for studies reporting T. gondii seroprevalence in wild boars between January 1995 and March 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. We estimated the pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii in wild boars using a random-effects model, and evaluated overall seroprevalence in different geographical areas. A total of 43 articles that included 16788 wild boar from 23 countries fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Of these, 4759 wild boar had been defined T. gondii seropositive and we estimated the pooled worldwide seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in wild boars to be 23% (95% CI: 19-27%). The pooled seroprevalence in North America (32%, 20-45%; odds ratio [OR] 2.09) and Europe (26%, 21-30%; OR 1.72), was higher than Asia (13%, 5-23%). The lowest seroprevalence was estimated in South America (5%, 3-8%). An increased seropositivity was observed with elevation in geographical latitude. In subgroup analyses, the pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii was higher in wild boar older than 12 months of age (28%, 22-35%; OR 1.57) compared to those up to 12 months of age (20%, 16-25%). Our findings suggest that wild boar have an important role in human infection and the epidemiological cycle of T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mohammad Riahi
- Faculty of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Yadollah Fakhri
- Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vafa Saber
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Hooman Hanifehpour
- Department of Biological Control and Vaccine, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Tehran, Iran
| | - Soghra Valizadeh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Majid Gholizadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Khazar University, Mahmood Abad, Iran
| | | | - H Ray Gamble
- National Academy of Sciences, 500 5th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, USA
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Liu Q, Wang ZD, Huang SY, Zhu XQ. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and typing of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:292. [PMID: 26017718 PMCID: PMC4451882 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonosis with medical and veterinary importance worldwide. The disease is mainly contracted by ingesting undercooked or raw meat containing viable tissue cysts, or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts. The diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection is crucial for the surveillance, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Traditional approaches for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis include etiological, immunological and imaging techniques. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis has been improved by the emergence of molecular technologies to amplify parasite nucleic acids. Among these, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular techniques have been useful for the genetic characterization of T. gondii. Serotyping methods based on polymorphic polypeptides have the potential to become the choice for typing T. gondii in humans and animals. In this review, we summarize conventional non-DNA-based diagnostic methods, and the DNA-based molecular techniques for the diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii. These techniques have provided foundations for further development of more effective and accurate detection of T. gondii infection. These advances will contribute to an improved understanding of the epidemiology, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ze-Dong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Si-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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Chemoh W, Sawangjaroen N, Nissapatorn V, Suwanrath C, Chandeying V, Hortiwakul T, Andiappan H, Sermwittayawong N, Charoenmak B, Siripaitoon P, Lekkla A, Sukthana Y. Toxoplasma gondii infection: What is the real situation? Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:685-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Biswas R, Parija SC. A rapid slide agglutination test for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in the rural health set up. Trop Parasitol 2013; 1:94-8. [PMID: 23508849 PMCID: PMC3593488 DOI: 10.4103/2229-5070.86942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Simple and rapid latex-based diagnostic tests have been used for detecting specific antigens or antibodies in several diseases. Aims: The aim of the present study was to standardize and evaluate the latex agglutination test (LAT) for the detection of Taenia solium metacestode antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum for the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC). Settings and Design: The study was conducted at Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate medical education and research after obtaining informed consent from the study subjects. Materials and Methods: In the present study, CSF and serum samples were collected from clinically suspected NCC, CT/MRI proven cases of NCC, non-cysticercal central nervous system infection control and from healthy control subjects. CSF was not collected from healthy controls. Polyclonal antisera raised in rabbits against porcine T. solium metacestode complete homogenate antigen, was used in the LAT to detect the antigen in the specimens. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was carried out using Epi Info. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the LAT were calculated. Results: The LAT exhibited sensitivity of 64.7% and specificity of 85.7% with CSF samples and sensitivity of 52.08% and specificity of 96% with serum samples. Conclusions: Results of the present study shows that the LAT can be employed as a moderately sensitive and specific test for the detection of T. solium metacestode antigen in the CSF and serum specimens for the diagnosis of NCC in poorly equipped laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Biswas
- Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
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Moraveji M, Hosseini A, Moghaddar N, Namavari MM, Eskandari MH. Development of latex agglutination test with recombinant NcSAG1 for the rapid detection of antibodies to Neospora caninum in cattle. Vet Parasitol 2012; 189:211-7. [PMID: 22571832 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle. Surface antigen 1 of N. caninum (NcSAG1) is an important immunodominant candidate for the development of a diagnostic reagent for neosporosis. The present study describes the development and evaluation of a latex agglutination test (LAT) with recombinant NcSAG1 (rNcSAG1) for the detection of antibodies to N. caninum in cattle. The rNcSAG1 gene was cloned in pET-28a and protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Carboxylated latex particles were coated with rNcSAG1 and the degree of agreement between LAT and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iscomELISA) was evaluated by using of 164 serum samples. Twenty-two (13.4%) and 23 (14.0%) of samples were positive for antibodies to N. caninum by LAT and ELISA respectively. Eighteen of 23 ELISA-positive samples were positive according to the LAT and a substantial agreement (κ=0.77) was found between the results of LAT and ELISA. The results indicated that the LAT with rNcSAG1 would be a rapid, simple, relatively inexpensive and suitable diagnostic test for detection of specific antibodies in N. caninum infection under field conditions. Improvement in purification of rNcSAG1 can reduce probable false positive reactions and so increase the degree of agreement between the LAT and ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Moraveji
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
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Jittapalapong S, Sarataphan N, Maruyama S, Hugot JP, Morand S, Herbreteau V. Toxoplasmosis in rodents: ecological survey and first evidences in Thailand. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 11:231-7. [PMID: 20645868 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic and wild rodents known as the most abundant and diversified order of mammals have a key role in the ecological food chain and also in the transmission of parasites and pathogens to other animals. While foraging on the ground, they can get infected by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, which is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. Therefore, they serve as intermediate hosts of T. gondii and can transmit it to their predators. To assess their role in the maintenance of T. gondii lifecycle in Thailand, we sampled rodents in a range of biotopes representative of the high biodiversity and conducted a serological survey with latex agglutination test to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies. Overall, 21 of 461 (4.6%) rodents had diagnostically significant antibody titers (cutoff, 1:64). Every species with at least 37 individuals captured tested positive, confirming the wide range of potential mammalian hosts of toxoplasmosis. None of the ecological traits (sex, maturity, morphology, season, or habitat) was found significant to predict the susceptibility to T. gondii both univariately and in a multivariate analysis. However, high prevalences were reported in either forested or anthropized areas. This survey constitutes the first confirmed serological investigation of T. gondii in rodents in Thailand. The rarity of both domestic and wild felids in Thailand emphasizes the importance of rodents in maintaining T. gondii, and questions the involvement of other carnivores in the life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathaporn Jittapalapong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Shin DW, Cha DY, Hua QJ, Cha GH, Lee YH. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and characteristics of seropositive patients in general hospitals in Daejeon, Korea. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2009; 47:125-30. [PMID: 19488418 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2009] [Revised: 04/15/2009] [Accepted: 05/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To figure out the epidemiological status and relevance with other diseases in toxoplasmosis, we checked serum IgG antibody titers of 1,265 patients and medical records of seropositive patients. Seropositive rates were 6.6% by latex agglutination test (LAT) and 6.7% by ELISA. No significant differences were detected between sexes and age groups. The peak seroprevalence was detected in the 40-49-year-old age group. According to clinical department, Toxoplasma-positive rates were high in patients in psychiatry, ophthalmology, health management, emergency medicine, and thoracic surgery. Major coincidental diseases in seropositive cases were malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, chronic hepatitis B, chronic renal diseases, schizophrenia, and acute lymphadenitis, in the order of frequency. In particular, some patients with chronic hepatitis B and malignant neoplasms had high antibody titers. These results revealed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in a general hospital-based study was similar to that in a community-based study, and T. gondii seropositivity may be associated with neoplasms, diabetes, and other chronic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Whan Shin
- Department of Infection Biology, Research Institute for Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
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Roelke ME, Johnson WE, Millán J, Palomares F, Revilla E, Rodríguez A, Calzada J, Ferreras P, León-Vizcaíno L, Delibes M, O'Brien SJ. Exposure to disease agents in the endangered Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2007; 54:171-178. [PMID: 32214935 PMCID: PMC7087597 DOI: 10.1007/s10344-007-0122-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2007] [Revised: 06/19/2007] [Accepted: 06/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid species in the world. Lynx populations have decreased dramatically in size and distribution in the last four decades, thus becoming increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic events such as epizooties. From 1989 to 2000, serum samples were obtained from 48 free-ranging lynx captured in the Doñana National Park (DNP, n = 31) and mountains of Sierra Morena (SM, n = 17) in southern Spain. Samples were tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline/canine parvovirus (FPV/CPV), feline coronavirus, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus and canine distemper virus (CDV) and for FeLV p27 antigen, to document baseline exposure levels. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 44% of lynx, with a significantly greater prevalence in DNP (61%) than in SM (12%). In DNP, prevalence was significantly higher in adult (81%) than in juvenile and sub-adult (41%) lynx, but no such difference was observed in SM. Low prevalences (≤11%) of minimally positive titres were found for FHV-1, FCV and FPV/CPV. This, combined with the lack of evidence for exposure to CDV, FIV and FeLV, suggests that these lynx populations are naïve and might be vulnerable to a disease outbreak in the future. Because of the reduced size of lynx populations, the documented low level of genetic variation (particularly in the DNP population) coupled with the recently documented state of immune depletion in a majority of necropsied lynx, it is important to better understand the threat and potential impact that disease agents might pose for the conservation of this endangered species. Future surveillance programs must include possible disease reservoir hosts such as domestic cats and dogs and other wild carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody E Roelke
- 1Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, SAIC-Frederick, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 USA
| | - Warren E Johnson
- 2Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 USA
| | - Javier Millán
- 3Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Palomares
- 3Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Eloy Revilla
- 3Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alejandro Rodríguez
- 3Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Calzada
- 4Departamento de Biología Ambiental y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Pablo Ferreras
- 5IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Luis León-Vizcaíno
- 6Infectious Diseases Area, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Miguel Delibes
- 3Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Stephen J O'Brien
- 2Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 USA
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Zia-Ali N, Fazaeli A, Khoramizadeh M, Ajzenberg D, Dardé M, Keshavarz-Valian H. Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains from different hosts in Iran. Parasitol Res 2007; 101:111-5. [PMID: 17333278 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0461-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2006] [Accepted: 01/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent protozoan parasites in Iran. This study was aimed to isolate T. gondii from a variety of hosts and to genetically analyze the parasite isolates. The prevalence of T. gondii in different animal hosts was assessed in two provinces of Iran, Tehran and Mazandaran in the central and northern parts, respectively. The latex agglutination (LA) test was carried out, and antibodies were found in 24 out of 105 sheep, 5 out of 35 goats, 23 out of 45 free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus), 2 out of 13 ducks (Anas spp.), and two of four stray cats (Felis domesticus). T. gondii was isolated by bioassay in mice from four sheep, six chickens, one duck, two cats, and three human samples. Genotyping of these 16 isolates was performed using Multiplex PCR for five microsatellite markers and GRA6 gene sequence analysis. The results indicated that the studied isolates consisted of only two genotypes, II and III, with no evidence of type 1 or mixed genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zia-Ali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 444, Kerman, Iran
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Xuan X, Igarashi I, Tanaka T, Fukumoto S, Nagasawa H, Fujisaki K, Mikami T. Detection of antibodies to Babesia equi in horses by a latex agglutination test using recombinant EMA-1. CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY IMMUNOLOGY 2001; 8:645-6. [PMID: 11329474 PMCID: PMC96117 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.8.3.645-646.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A latex agglutination test (LAT) using recombinant equi merozoite antigen 1 (EMA-1) for the detection of antibodies to Babesia equi was developed. The LAT was able to differentiate very clearly between sera from B. equi-infected horses and sera from Babesia caballi-infected horses or from normal horses. The LAT results were identical to those of a previously developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results indicate that LAT using recombinant EMA-1 might be very useful as a routine screening method for the diagnosis of B. equi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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Type I and IV collagen and fibrinogen binding to Aeromonas species isolated from various infections. ZENTRALBLATT FUR BAKTERIOLOGIE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 1990; 273:186-94. [PMID: 2400535 DOI: 10.1016/s0934-8840(11)80248-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Collagen binding is a common property of strains of Aeromonas species. However, agglutination of latex beads coated with types I and IV collagen and fibrinogen with Aeromonas cells varied among strains of Aeromonas species and their source of isolation. Culture media and growth conditions greatly influenced expression of Aeromonas cell surface receptors to bind collagen (types I and IV) and fibrinogen immobilized on the latex particles as suggested by the particle agglutination assay (PAA). Aeromonas cells aggregated with the differentially coated latex beads in a specified manner. Furthermore, the PAA method was found to be rapid, easy to perform and sensitive for routine screening of a large number of strains for serum and connective-tissue protein cell surface receptors.
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