First Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in Blood and Milk of Goats from Algeria

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important foodborne diseases in humans, potentially acquired by ingesting unpasteurized goat milk. This study examined the role of goat milk as a source of infection of Toxoplasma gondii for humans in Algeria. Sera, blood, and milk samples collected from 106 female goats were tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii and its DNA, using indirect ELISA and PCR, respectively. Multiplex PCR was performed using 15 microsatellite markers to determine the clonal type of the T. gondii DNA detected. Seropositive results were found in 51 she-goats (48.11%). T. gondii DNA was detected in 16 (15.09%) and 15 (14.15%) blood and milk samples, respectively. In total, 15 (29.41%) out of 51-seropositive goats were PCR-positive for blood, while only 6 of them (6/15, 40%) showed the presence of T. gondii DNA in their milk. A fair correlation was found between indirect ELISA and PCR assays for T. gondii detection in milk (K = 0.2243) and blood (K = 0.28300), with a substantial difference in the screening ability of the tests (G2 = 38.96, p < 0.0001). The genotyping of samples could not be completed, but showed the absence of type I and type III lineages in goats from the Mila region, northeastern Algeria. The Algerian goat population is highly exposed to T. gondii, with a potentially increased risk of parasite transmission to humans via milk consumption.

Seroepidemiology, molecular detection, and isolation attempts of Toxoplasma gondii in dairy goats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Goats are the one of the most susceptible domestic species to toxoplasmosis affecting animal health and production. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in dairy goats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as to evaluate associated risk factors, parasitic DNA detection in raw goat milk samples, and attempts to isolate the parasite from raw goat milk samples. Between October 2020 and December 2022, blood samples were collected from 460 goats, and 220 milk samples were taken from goats raised in the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The serum samples were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using IFAT. The milk samples were tested for parasitic DNA detection using nPCR, and attempts were made to isolate the protozoan in mice. For risk factor analysis, the farmers answered a semi-structured questionnaire covering various epidemiological variables. Overall, 24.1% tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG in serum samples. Risk factors included farm location, age group, rearing system, presence of cats, grazing, and access of cats to water sources. In nPCR, 38.6% were positive, but none were positive in the bioassay. However, 3.2% of the mice inoculated with goat milk seroconverted. This study found that the exposure of dairy goats in Rio de Janeiro to T. gondii is driven by ineffective management practices in preventing and controlling the parasite in these animals. Moreover, despite the detection of parasitic DNA in raw goat milk, the shedding of viable parasites in milk from naturally exposed goats appears to be low.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus) at the Tabriz abattoir, Iran

BACKGROUND

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasite in humans and warm-blooded animals worldwide. Infection of humans by this parasite can result in severe clinical symptoms, particularly in individuals with congenital toxoplasmosis or immunocompromised patients. Contamination mainly occurs through foodborne routes, especially the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from animals.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to use PCR to detect T. gondii in tissues and organs of buffaloes and cattle slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, in Iran.

METHODS

Fifty grams of heart, thigh, diaphragm and tongue from 50 buffaloes and 100 cattle slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial slaughterhouse were selected for sampling using a combination of convenience sampling. The samples were tested using a previously published PCR method.

RESULTS

Out of the 150 animal samples, T. gondii was detected in 10 (6.7%, 95%CI: 3.2-11.9), including one buffalo (2%, 95%CI: 0.1-10.6) and nine cattle (9%, 95%CI: 4.2-16.4). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of T. gondii infection among cattle based on age and sex (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated a potential risk of T. gondii transmission to humans through the consumption of infected meat. Therefore, appropriate and effective preventive measures should be taken to limit the transmission of this parasite to humans, and the consumption of raw and undercooked meat should be discouraged.

Interplay between cross sectional analysis of risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women and their domestic cats

Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The primary aim of this study was to identify hygienic and cat management practices that could affect the occurrence of T. gondii in cats and their owners in Sharqia Governorate, Egypt. T. gondii infection was evaluated in 80 pregnant women and 29 domestic cats using Real-time PCR. A questionnaire was administered to obtain information regarding the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection. Blood samples were collected from enrolled pregnant women, and fecal samples were collected from their pet cats. Firth logistic regression model complemented with random forest (RF) analysis was used to evaluate the association of different hygiene and cat management practices with T. gondii infection in pregnant women. T. gondii infection was identified in 27.5% of pregnant women and 17% of domestic cats. Drinking raw milk and contacting stray and pet cats were significantly associated with higher odds of T. gondii infection. The proportion of T. gondii-positive women who ate raw meat (60.0%) was higher than those ate heat-cooked meat (25.3%). Moreover, women who did not wash their hands after contact with cats were 6 times (OR 6.12; CI: 3.03-9.21) more likely to experience T. gondii infection than those washed their hands after cat contact. The RF analysis showed that washing hands constitute a serious yet preventable public health concern that requires targeted, community-specific efforts. Cat owners, particularly pregnant women, need to be aware about the risk of T. gondii infection, while handling cat and pet's owner should be advised to take necessary hygienic measures to prevent its infection.

Use of PCR to determine Toxoplasma gondii in milk samples from camels (Camelus dromedarius), cattle (Bos taurus) and buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) in East Azarbaijan province, Iran

BACKGROUND

Toxoplasmosis as a zoonotic condition is developed by an intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii from the Apicomplexa phylum, which imposes economic losses on herds of animals and severe complications in immunocompromised people and pregnant women. This infectious disease can be transmitted to human beings from the contaminated unpasteurized milk, uncooked meat, water and food contaminated with sporulated oocysts and transplacental transmission.

OBJECTIVES

This study amid to determine T. gondii DNA in camel, buffalo and cow milks in using the PCR method based on the B1 gene.

METHODS

A total of 100 milk samples, including 55 cows, 30 buffalos and 15 camels, were collected from different regions of north-western using direct milking and then transferred to the Food and Aquatic Health Laboratory under refrigerated conditions.

RESULTS

The results showed that out of 100 milk samples examined, 5 samples (5%) were contaminated, and T. gondii DNA was detected in the milk samples of 2 (3.63%) cows, 1 (3.33%) buffalos and 2 (13.33%) camels, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that raw milk contaminated with T. gondii can be an important route of transmission of infection for human beings.

Toxoplasmosis in Human and Animals Around the World. Diagnosis and Perspectives in the One Health Approach

Toxoplasmosis is a unique health disease that significantly affects the health of humans, domestic animals, wildlife and is present in ecosystems, including water, soil and food. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the best-adapted parasites in the word. This parasite is able to persist for long periods in its hosts, in different geographic regions of the word. This review summarizes the current literature of these themes, focusing on: (1) toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic infection; (2) One health approach and toxoplasmosis; (3) human toxoplasmosis; (4) animal toxoplasmosis; (5) toxoplasmosis diagnosis, as immunological, parasitological and molecular diagnosis; (6) T. gondii outbreaks caused by infected meat, milk and dairy products, as well as, vegetables and water consume; (7) studies in experimental models; (8) genetic characterization of T. gondii strains; (9) extracellular vesicles and miRNA; and (10) future perspectives on T. gondii and toxoplasmosis. The vast prevalence of toxoplasmosis in both humans and animals and the dispersion and resistence of T. gondii parasites in environment highlight the importance of the one health approach in diagnostic and control of the disease. Here the different aspects of the one health approach are presented and discussed.

Apicomplexan Protozoa Responsible for Reproductive Disorders: Occurrence of DNA in Blood and Milk of Donkeys (Equus asinus) and Minireview of the Related Literature

Donkeys may be susceptible to many pathological agents and may act as carriers of pathogens for other animal species and humans. This study evaluated the occurrence of potentially abortifacient apicomplexan protozoa DNA in blood and milk samples collected at different time periods during lactation (1, 6, and 10 months) from 33 healthy dairy jennies. A total of 73 blood and 73 milk samples were used for DNA extraction and analysis. Blood specimens from 11/33 (33%) jennies scored positive for Theileria equi, while milk samples scored negative. Blood and milk of 3/33 jennies yielded DNA of Toxoplasma gondii at 6 months (n. 1) and 10 months (n. 2) after parturition. Neospora caninum DNA was found in four milk and in five blood samples only at one month after parturition. This study is the first report about the presence of N. caninum DNA in milk of naturally infected jennies. Moreover, the excretion of N. caninum DNA in some of these jennies at 30 days from the parturition may suggest a possible occurrence of an endogenous cycle, while the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk collected at 6 and 10 months after parturition may be suggestive of a discontinuous excretion.

Public health and economic importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in goats: The last decade

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Toxoplasmosis in goats continues to be of public health and economic concern. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in goats in the past decade. There is debate and uncertainty regarding excretion of T. gondii in milk and the ingestion of raw milk as sources of T. gondii infection for humans. Toxoplasmosis can cause abortion and deaths even in adult goats. PCR-RFLP typing of T. gondii DNA derived from viable T. gondii isolates has revealed genetic diversity in goats in North and South America. The significance of T. gondii isolates in domestic goats usually associated with wildlife in USA is discussed. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.

Seroprevalence, isolation, molecular detection and genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii from small ruminants in Egypt

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious zoonotic disease caused by protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Detection of T. gondii infection with touchy and particular strategies is a key advance to control and prevent toxoplasmosis. Genotyping can explain the virulence, epidemiology and setting up new methodologies for diagnosis and control in human and animals. The point of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep and goat in Egypt and to comprehend the genetic variety of T. gondii isolates circling in Egypt. Blood samples were gathered from 113 ewes and 95 she-goats from three Egyptian governorates (Cairo, Giza and Al-Sharkia). Also blood and tissue samples were gathered from 193 sheep and 51 goats from Cairo and Giza abattoirs. All samples were assayed serologically utilizing ELISA and OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Rapid test cassettes (OTRT) tests and the tissue samples of the seropositive animals were digested and microscopically examined then bio-assayed in mice as viability test. All the T. gondii isolates undergo molecular identification using PCR and genotyped utilizing nPCR/RFLP analysis of SAG2 gene. The total seropositivity of live sheep and goat was 47.15 and 39.2% utilizing ELISA and OTRT respectively. Concerning abattoirs, seropositivity, positive microscopic examination, mice viability from sheep samples were 47.1%, 37.3% and 44.1% respectively while that of goats were 45.5%, 33.3% and 48.6% respectively. Eighteen T. gondii isolates were affirmed utilizing PCR. Genotyping confirmed 10 isolates (55.5%) as type II, 6 (33.3%) as type III and 2 (11.1%) as atypical genotypes. Type II and III are the genotypes mostly circling among small ruminants in Egypt and this is most significance for the public health in Egypt.

Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in raw goat, sheep, and camel milk in Upper Egypt

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with harmful effects on animal and human health. Ingestion of contaminated raw milk has been suggested as a vehicle for transmission of Toxoplasma gondii to human. The present study was performed for the detection of T. gondii in raw milk samples of goat, sheep, and camel in Upper Egypt using two different techniques (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR]).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted to determine the T. gondii prevalence using ELISA and qPCR in raw goat, sheep, and camels milk (30 samples for each) collected from different locations in Upper Egypt.

RESULTS

T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 90.0, 60.0, and 3.33% of goat, sheep, and camel milk samples, respectively. From the positive samples of T. gondii IgG, the parasitic DNA was detected only in two examined milk samples, one of them was present in goat milk sample and another one was found in sheep milk sample. On the other hand, the parasite was not detected in camels' milk samples.

CONCLUSION

These results concluded that the raw milk was contaminated by T. gondii tachyzoites which could be a source of human infection. Restricted hygienic programs should be implemented in the animal farms to decrease the risk of milk contamination by this parasite.

Toxoplasma gondii in milk of naturally infected dairy ewes on west mesoregion of Santa Catarina state, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study aimed to detect Toxoplasma gondii in the milk of dairy sheep in the Western mesorregion of state of Santa Catarina by bioassay (22 milk samples from eight ewes seropositive; IFA ≥256) and PCR [for the detection of agent in the brains of mice inoculated on bioassay and directly from milk (108 samples from 42 seropositive ewes (IFA, ≥64) in different lactation periods)]. T. gondii DNA was detected in mice brains inoculated with milk from eight sheep (a sample of the 45th day of lactation and seven in the collection of 90th day) and directly from the milk in samples of the second collection (90 days) in five animals. Taking into account both assays, from a total of 42 ewes in lactation and seropositive for T. gondii, 30.95% (13/42) of the animals presented evidences of T. gondii presence in milk. Positive PCR samples were sequenced and the results confirmed ≥97% identity with the membrane antigen P22 gene of T. gondii. The results showed that T. gondii is present in the milk of sheep, representing a possible source of infection to humans through the consumption of milk "in natura" and/or derivatives, besides the possibility of lactogenic transmission to lambs.

Novel Fitc-Labeled Igy Antibody: Fluorescence Imaging Toxoplasma Gondii In Vitro

Toxoplasmosis is caused by T. gondii and can create serious health problems in humans and also worldwide economic harm. Because of the clinical and veterinary importance of toxoplasmosis, its timely and accurate diagnosis has a major impact on disease-fighting strategies. T. gondii surface antigen 1 (SAG1), an immunodominant-specific antigen, is often used as a diagnostic tool. Therefore, the aim of this study was the optimization of novel fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeling of the SAG1-specific IgY antibody to show the potential for immunofluorescence imaging of T. gondii in vitro. The specificity of IgY antibodies was controlled by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the concentration of the IgY antibody was detected using a spectrophotometer. The optimum incubation time and FITC concentration were determined with a fluorescence spectrometer. The obtained FITC-labeled IgY was used for marking T. gondii tachyzoites, which were cultured in vitro and viewed using light microscopy. The interaction of the fluorescence-labeled antibody and the T. gondii tachyzoites was examined with a fluorescence microscope. In this study, for the first time, a FITC-labeled anti-SAG1 IgY antibody was developed according to ELISA, fluorescence spectrometer, and fluorescence imaging of cell culture. In the future, the obtained FITC-labeled T. gondii tachyzoites’ specific IgY antibodies may be used as diagnostic tools for the detection of T. gondii infections in different samples.