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Rampacci E, Diaferia M, Lucentini L, Brustenga L, Capasso M, Girardi S, Gizzi I, Primavilla S, Veronesi F, Passamonti F. Detection of zoonotic enteropathogens in captive large felids in Italy. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:200-209. [PMID: 38017609 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13099] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Within the One Health paradigm, infectious disease surveillance have been developed for domestic and wild animals, leaving the role of captive non-domestic populations, especially felids in zoos and circuses, less explored. This study addresses the proximity of these captive animals to urban areas, necessitating focused monitoring for potential zoonotic enteropathogens. The present work aimed to investigate the presence of such zoonotic enteropathogens in faecal samples from captive large felid populations. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 108 faecal samples were collected in three circuses, five zoos and one rescue centre across Italy. Salmonella spp. isolation, serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted on all samples. Additionally, 60 samples were also examined for gastrointestinal parasites using standard coprological techniques. Giardia spp. detection employed direct immunofluorescent staining and specific PCR, while Toxoplasma gondii was detected using PCR targeting B1 gene. A total of 51 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were isolated, with predominant serovariants including Infantis (43.1%), Coeln (11.8%) and Newport (11.8%). The captive felids likely act as asymptomatic carriers of foodborne Salmonella, with notable resistance ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, no resistance to enrofloxacin was noted. Microscopic analysis revealed Toxascaris leonina eggs in 11 faecal samples (18.3%) and Giardia duodenalis cysts in one animal (1.7%). CONCLUSIONS Captive animals in public settings may act as sources of Salmonella infection and enteroparasitosis for both occupational and general exposure. The study emphasizes the role of captive animals in antimicrobial resistance dynamics, highlighting the need for routine pathogen screening in the management practices of zoological structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rampacci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Manuela Diaferia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Livia Lucentini
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Brustenga
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Michele Capasso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Girardi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Gizzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Primavilla
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche 'Togo Rosati', Perugia, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Domann N, Rezende SR, Fleury ACC, Barbosa IMFN, Ribeiro IDC, Dornelas JB, de Oliveira TFC, de Moura VOL, Storchilo HR, de Castro AM, Garcia JL, Cardoso LPV, Rezende HHA. Molecular characterization and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens in the southwest region of Goiás: new genotypes. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e009823. [PMID: 38055433 PMCID: PMC10704866 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to isolate Toxoplasma gondii from tissues of free-range chickens in the southwestern region of Goiás, to detect and molecularly characterize the genetic material of the parasite, and to determine the seroprevalence of the protozoan parasite in these animals. A seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies of 76% (19/25) was found among the chickens, while genetic material from their tissues was detected in 56% (14/25). A total of 14 isolates was obtained in the bioassay, ten of which were considered acute, eight were considered isolates of high virulence lethal to mice, and four of low virulence, considered non-lethal but with the ability to chronify the infection. Seven of the ten isolates showed significant morphometric differences from the RH strain, in terms of nucleus-complex-apical distance, length and width. Genotyping of the acute isolates was performed by RFLP-PCR, using 11 genetic markers: SAG1, SAG2 (3'SAG2 and 5'SAG2), alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and APICO. The results were compared and classified according to the genotypes listed on the ToxoDB Platform, where different profiles were observed indicating the presence of two known genotypes (#7 and #63) and five new genotypes (NEW 3, NEW4, NEW5, NEW6, NEW 7). The results showed high seroprevalence, isolation rate, molecular detection and genotypic variations of T. gondii in free-range chickens in the southwestern region of Goiás.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Domann
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Stéfanne Rodrigues Rezende
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Amanda Cristina Corrêa Fleury
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | | | - Isabella da Costa Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Júlia Batista Dornelas
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | | | - Vanessa Oliveira Lopes de Moura
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Heloísa Ribeiro Storchilo
- Laboratório de Estudos da Relação Parasito-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | - Ana Maria de Castro
- Laboratório de Estudos da Relação Parasito-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | - João Luís Garcia
- Laboratório de Protozoologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual de Londrina – UEL, Londrina, PR, Brasil
| | - Ludimila Paula Vaz Cardoso
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
| | - Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Bacteriologia e Micologia, Universidade Federal de Jataí – UFJ, Jataí, GO, Brasil
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3
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Leong SD, Hassan L, Sharma RSK, Toung OP, Musa HI. Prevalence and Haplotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in Native Village Chickens and Pigs in Peninsular Malaysia. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050334. [PMID: 37235417 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic foodborne parasite capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animal species worldwide. Toxoplasmosis is usually acquired via ingestion of undercooked infected animal tissues resulting in life-threatening consequences for unborn foetus and immunocompromised individuals. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection, its associated risk factors in farms, and haplotypes isolated from the native village chicken and pig populations in Peninsular Malaysia. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in village chickens at the animal level was low at 7.6% (95% CI: 4.60-11.60), while at the farm level, it was 52.0% (95% CI: 31.30-72.20). For pigs, the animal-level seroprevalence of T. gondii was 3.0% (95% CI: 1.60-5.10), while the farm-level, it was 31.6% (95% CI: 12.60-56.60). The PCR-based DNA detection on meat samples from chickens (n = 250) and pork (n = 121) detected 14.0% (95% CI: 9.95-18.9) and 5.8% (95% CI: 2.4-11.6) positive, respectively. Six unique T. gondii haplotypes were isolated from the tissue samples. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that feeding the chickens farm-produced feeds and allowing wild animals access to pig farms were significant determinants for farm-level seropositivity. Providing hygienic and good quality feeds to chickens and increasing biosecurity in pig farms through prevention of access by wildlife may reduce the risk of transmission of T. gondii infection in the local chickens and pig farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Danial Leong
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 44300 Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Latiffah Hassan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 44300 Serdang, Malaysia
| | | | - Ooi Peck Toung
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 44300 Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Hassan Ismail Musa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 44300 Serdang, Malaysia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069 Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Qamar W, Alsayeqh AF. A review of foodborne Toxoplasma gondii with a special focus on its prevalence in Pakistan from 2000 to 2022. Front Vet Sci 2023; 9:1080139. [PMID: 36744224 PMCID: PMC9890071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1080139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Third-world countries have a higher prevalence of food-related disorders than developed nations. Millions of people in underdeveloped countries are seriously at risk from the potential water supply contamination with protozoan diseases. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important protozoans causing diseases in livestock and humans. Despite the standard tests for diagnosing this parasite and different treatment methods, the spread of these parasites is uncontrollable and rising every year due to other management disorders. In this review, we summarize etiopathogenesis and prevalence in Pakistan. We looked for papers reporting the seroprevalence of T. gondii in people and animals between 2000 and 2022 in different databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Pakistan's domestic animals (sheep and goats, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and buffaloes), domestic pets (cats and dogs), poultry and rodents, and humans were gathered. According to the findings, sheep had an estimated pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii that varied from 11.20 to 26.50 %, and goats from 24.50 to 38.40%. Whereas in buffalo the opposite trend was followed, and the prevalence was observed is 0% in 2022, in horses, donkeys, and mules, only one study was reported according to which a high prevalence was observed in mules (28.60%) followed by donkeys (23.50%) and horses (23.50%), in cats 38.5% prevalence was observed in a recent study and in dogs 28.43% observed, and in humans from 22 to 60%. Human beings are found to be the most affected species showing high prevalence among all. According to our findings, animals and pets not only serve as a reservoir for the parasite but also serve as a direct route for human infection with T. gondii. The diagnostic techniques used in the observed studies were mostly serological testing whereas only a few studies have only been observed with molecular testing. To know the exact pattern of the disease for its control, the trend of molecular and advanced testing should be adopted as it is more reliable. Moreover, to decrease the transmission chances of T. gondii to humans, it is crucial to manage T. gondii infections in non-human species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warda Qamar
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia,*Correspondence: Abdullah F. Alsayeqh ✉
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5
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Andreopoulou M, Schares G, Koethe M, Chaligiannis I, Maksimov P, Joeres M, Cardron G, Goroll T, Sotiraki S, Daugschies A, Bangoura B. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:97-111. [PMID: 36308531 PMCID: PMC9816277 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07701-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of public health importance, infecting all warm-blooded animals, including chickens. Undercooked chicken meat or relevant products such as sausages could lead to human infections. In free-range, organic and slow-growth farming systems where the susceptibility period for chickens is extended, more knowledge about potential risk factors is essential. This study is the first seroepidemiological survey in different regions and types of chicken farms in Greece, using a major tachyzoite surface antigen-based ELISA (TgSAG1), combined with magnetic-capture PCR (mc-PCR) and bioassay for the isolation of strains from the chickens' tissues. Potential risk factors for T. gondii infection in these hosts were also investigated. Additionally, the co-existence of T. gondii and Eimeria spp. infections was assessed to elucidate epidemiological links between these two protozoan infections. Overall T. gondii seroprevalence was 9.5%. Of the backyard chickens sampled, 41.2% were seropositive and 70% of the organic and free-range layer farms had at least one T. gondii seropositive hen. No serologically positive broilers were found, although mc-PCR revealed a positive sample, highlighting the importance of accurate early-infection direct detection of T. gondii infections to ensure public health. T. gondii isolates obtained by mouse bioassay were genotyped. All belonged to type II (ToxoDB#3) as confirmed also by microsatellite typing. Production system, type of nutrition, and feeding system automation were identified as the most significant risk factors, while no association was found between the presence of cats and T. gondii seropositivity as calculated on both a farm level and per individual bird sampled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Andreopoulou
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany ,Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Thermi Greece
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Koethe
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ilias Chaligiannis
- Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Maike Joeres
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Garance Cardron
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Tina Goroll
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Smaro Sotiraki
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, Thermi Greece
| | - Arwid Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Berit Bangoura
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY USA
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6
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Zrelli S, Amairia S, Jebali M, Gharbi M. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Tunisian free-range chicken meat and their offal. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3561-3567. [PMID: 36181540 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07680-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/07/2022]
Abstract
Free-range chickens are infected by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) mainly when they pick-up their food from the ground. The present study was performed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chicken meat (breast and thigh muscles) and their offal (heart and gizzard). The molecular characterization and the phylogeny of T. gondii amplicons were also investigated. Two PCRs were compared, the first targeting B1 gene and a nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 gene. Among the 60 tested birds, 47 free-range chickens had at least one positive PCR, i.e., a prevalence of 78.3% (95% CI: 67.9-88.7%). The prevalence of T. gondii infection in muscles and organs analyzed by specific PCR targeting B1 gene (43.3%; 95% CI: 37-49.6%) was significantly higher than those analyzed for ITS-1 gene detection (15%; 95%CI: 10.4-19.5%) (p < 0.001). Heart samples had the highest T. gondii infection prevalence, as well as targeting either B1 gene (48.3%; 95% CI: 35.6-60.9%) or ITS-1 gene (21.6%; 95% CI: 11.2-32%). The present study showed that the consumption of undercooked free-range chicken meat represents a high risk for seronegative pregnant women. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed homology with wild and domestic birds and domestic mammals and a large geographic distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samia Zrelli
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de La Recherche Et de L'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Univ. Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. .,Département Des Productions Animales, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, Université de Carthage, 1054, Carthage, Tunisia.
| | - Safa Amairia
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de La Recherche Et de L'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Univ. Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mounir Jebali
- Division Contrôle Sanitaire et Vétérinaire - DGH Subsistances- DG Santé Militaire - Min. Déf.-Base Militaire Ksar Saïd, 2009, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de La Recherche Et de L'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Univ. Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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7
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Toxoplasma gondii in Foods: Prevalence, Control, and Safety. Foods 2022; 11:foods11162542. [PMID: 36010541 PMCID: PMC9407268 DOI: 10.3390/foods11162542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, with approximately one third of the population around the world seropositive. The consumption of contaminated food is the main source of infection. These include meat products with T. gondii tissue cysts, and dairy products with tachyzoites. Recently, contamination has been detected in fresh products with oocysts and marine products. Despite the great health problems that are caused by T. gondii, currently there are no standardized methods for its detection in the food industry. In this review, we analyze the current detection methods, the prevalence of T. gondii in different food products, and the control measures. The main detection methods are bioassays, cell culture, molecular and microscopic techniques, and serological methods, but some of these do not have applicability in the food industry. As a result, emerging techniques are being developed that are aimed at the detection of multiple parasites simultaneously that would make their application more efficient in the industry. Since the prevalence of this parasite is high in many products (meat and milk, marine products, and vegetables), it is necessary to standardize detection methods, as well as implement control measures.
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de Barros RAM, Torrecilhas AC, Marciano MAM, Mazuz ML, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Fux B. Toxoplasmosis in Human and Animals Around the World. Diagnosis and Perspectives in the One Health Approach. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106432. [PMID: 35390311 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Aparecida Müller de Barros
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Campus Diadema, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | | | - Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz
- Parasitology Division, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israeli Veterinary Service and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Beit Dagan, 5025000, Israel..
| | | | - Blima Fux
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
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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.
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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.
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10
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Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain. J Vet Res 2021; 65:457-461. [PMID: 35111999 PMCID: PMC8775739 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2021-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasites worldwide and affects the vast majority of warm-blooded animal species, including humans. Postnatal infection in humans occurs through the ingestion of sporulated T. gondii oocysts or via the oral intake of parasite tissue cysts during the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. In this regard, given their high exposure to oocysts, chickens (Gallus domesticus) raised on the ground constitute a potential source of T. gondii. Material and Methods For the first time in Spain, a survey was undertaken in commercial retail free-range poultry. A total of 50 thighs from different animals were analysed. The samples were homogenised and an acid pepsin digestion procedure was applied prior to molecular analysis. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was isolated from meat by qPCR. Two sets of primers were used for DNA amplification targeting the specific sequence of a 529 bp repeat element and another set of primers was utilised for the surface antigen protein-1 gene. Results DNA extracted from 5 out of 50 tissue samples was positive for both genes by qPCR amplification. Conclusion The 10% prevalence of Toxoplasma infection found in commercial free-range chickens raises public health issues.
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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.
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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:
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Minutti AF, Gonçalves Vieira FE, Sasse JP, Martins TA, de Seixas M, Tosi Cardim S, de Barros LD, Garcia JL. Comparison of serological and molecular techniques to detect Toxoplasma gondii in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Vet Parasitol 2021; 296:109515. [PMID: 34242913 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to compare different indirect and direct diagnostic techniques to diagnose Toxoplasma gondii in free-range chickens. Samples of 386 chickens obtained from 24 Paraná properties were used for serological analysis by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), modified agglutination test (MAT), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Animals positive by IFAT and/or MAT had their tissues submitted to the mouse bioassay, and those who were positive in this technique had their blood, tissues, and acidic pepsin tissue digestion submitted to PCR (conventional, nested, and quantitative-PCR (qPCR)). One hundred and nineteen chickens (30.8 %) were positive in at least one of the serological tests, being 102 (26.4 %) in the IFAT, 64 (16.6 %) in the MAT, and 62 (16.0 %) in the ELISA. The IFAT was used as a gold standard, and the MAT showed higher sensitivity (46.0 %) and specificity (94.0) compared to ELISA (43.5 % and 93.6 %, respectively). Ninety samples of eighteen chickens positive in the mouse bioassay were subjected to PCR, and according to molecular tests, the conventional PCR detected the T. gondii DNA in 30 % (27/90) of the samples, in 38.8 % (35/90) with nested-PCR and 40.0 % (36/90) with real-time. According to molecular analyzes, the sensitivity was higher in ITS1 nested-PCR (69.4 %) and specificity in conventional PCR-529bp (90.7 %), using the qPCR as the gold standard. MAT and ELISA had similarities in concordance analyzes. The IFAT was the serological technique with the highest agreement with the mouse bioassay, and serological tests in parallel showed to be a good screening option for the isolation of T. gondii in chick tissues. The PCR markers effectively detected the parasite DNA, and the heart was the tissue with the highest number of positives samples. The conventional PCR had sensitivity similar to nested-PCR and qPCR and could be a cheaper alternative to diagnose T. gondii infection in chicken tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Flávia Minutti
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - João Pedro Sasse
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Thais Agostinho Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Mércia de Seixas
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Tosi Cardim
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Norte do Paraná - UNOPAR, Arapongas, PR, Brazil
| | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
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Beck B, Grochow T, Schares G, Blaga R, Le Roux D, Bangoura B, Daugschies A, Fietz SA. Burden and regional distribution of Toxoplasma gondii cysts in the brain of COBB 500 broiler chickens following chronic infection with 76K strain. Vet Parasitol 2021; 296:109497. [PMID: 34147768 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109497] [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: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Chickens are ground-feeders and represent, especially if free-range, important intermediate hosts in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and are used as sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts. Until now, little is known about the burden and regional distribution of T. gondii cysts in the chicken brain. It was therefore the aim of this study to investigate the abundance and specific distribution of T. gondii cysts within the chicken brain following chronic infection with a type II strain (76 K) of T. gondii. A total of 29 chickens were included in the study and divided into control group (n = 9) and two different infection groups, a low dose (n = 10) and a high dose (n = 10) group, which were orally inoculated with 1500 or 150,000 T. gondii oocysts per animal, respectively. Seroconversion was detected in the majority of chickens of the high dose group, but not in the animals of the low dose and the control group. Moreover, T. gondii DNA was detected most frequently in the brain and more frequently in the heart than in liver, spleen, thigh and pectoral muscle using qPCR analysis. The number of T. gondii cysts, quantified in the chicken brain using histological analysis, seems to be considerably lower as compared to studies in rodents, which might explain why T. gondii infected chickens very rarely, if at all, develop neurological deficits. Similar to observations in mice, in which no lateralisation for T. gondii cysts was reported, T. gondii cysts were distributed nearly equally between the left and right chicken brain hemispheres. When different brain regions (fore-, mid- and hindbrain) were compared, all T. gondii cysts were located in the forebrain with the overwhelming majority of these cysts being present in the telencephalic pallium and subpallium. More studies including different strains and higher doses of T. gondii are needed in order to precisely evaluate its cyst burden and regional distribution in the chicken brain. Together, our findings provide insights into the course of T. gondii infection in chickens and are important to understand the differences of chronic T. gondii infection in the chicken and mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Beck
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Grochow
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Radu Blaga
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Delphine Le Roux
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Berit Bangoura
- Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
| | - Arwid Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone A Fietz
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Nzelu IN, Kwaga JKP, Kabir J, Lawal IA, Beazley C, Evans L, Blake DP. Detection and genetic characterisation of Toxoplasma gondii circulating in free-range chickens, pigs and seropositive pregnant women in Benue state, Nigeria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009458. [PMID: 34077414 PMCID: PMC8202946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii parasites present strong but geographically varied signatures of population structure. Populations sampled from Europe and North America have commonly been defined by over-representation of a small number of clonal types, in contrast to greater diversity in South America. The occurrence and extent of genetic diversity in African T. gondii populations remains understudied, undermining assessments of risk and transmission. The present study was designed to establish the occurrence, genotype and phylogeny of T. gondii in meat samples collected from livestock produced for human consumption (free-range chickens, n = 173; pigs, n = 211), comparing with T. gondii detected in blood samples collected from seropositive pregnant women (n = 91) in Benue state, Nigeria. The presence of T. gondii DNA was determined using a published nested polymerase chain reaction, targeting the 529 bp multicopy gene element. Samples with the highest parasite load (assessed using quantitative PCR) were selected for PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeting the surface antigen 3 (SAG3), SAG2 (5’ and 3’), beta-tubulin (BTUB) and dense granule protein 6 (GRA6) loci, and the apicoplast genome (Apico). Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in all three of the populations sampled, presenting 30.6, 31.3 and 25.3% occurrence in free-range chickens, pigs and seropositive pregnant women, respectively. Quantitative-PCR indicated low parasite occurrence in most positive samples, limiting some further molecular analyses. PCR-RFLP results suggested that T. gondii circulating in the sampled populations presented with a type II genetic background, although all included a hybrid type I/II or II/III haplotype. Concatenation of aligned RFLP amplicon sequences revealed limited diversity with nine haplotypes and little indication of host species-specific or spatially distributed sub-populations. Samples collected from humans shared haplotypes with free-range chickens and/or pigs. Africa remains under-explored for T. gondii genetic diversity and this study provides the first detailed definition of haplotypes circulating in human and animal populations in Nigeria. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that infects most warm-blooded animals and can be transmitted from animals to humans. Three dominant genetic types have been described from a larger pool of around 16, and it has been suggested that the severity of disease may be influenced by genetic type. Little is known of T. gondii in Africa. The burden of disease is unclear, while lack of knowledge around genetic diversity and population structure undermines effective risk assessment and control. We sought to determine if T. gondii was prevalent in pigs and poultry produced for human consumption in Nigeria, comparing with genetic types detected in the overlapping human population. Using meat samples from free-range chickens and pigs, and blood samples from seropositive pregnant women in Benue state, Nigeria, we found that T. gondii with a type II genetic background were most common with limited genetic diversity. Detection of comparable genetic types in the free-range chicken, pig and human populations indicate an overlapping parasite population and can be used to inform assessments of risk to human health, most notably pregnant women. The information reported here informs on the occurrence and population structure of T. gondii in Nigeria, contributing to improved understanding in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeoma N. Nzelu
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob K. P. Kwaga
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Junaidu Kabir
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Idris A. Lawal
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Christy Beazley
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Evans
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Damer P. Blake
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Mirahmadi H, Nozari B, Raissi V, Alijani E, Etemadi S. Frequency and parasite load of Toxoplasma gondii in hemodialysis patients based on RE gene by real-time PCR. GENE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Toxoplasma gondii in Chickens (Gallus domesticus) from North India. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:185-192. [PMID: 32857258 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-020-00266-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Toxoplasma gondii, an important food-borne parasite has been reported in a wide range of food animals globally. Poultry meat production is on rise in several developing nations including India. Several studies on status of T. gondii conducted globally had shown substantial risk of this parasite through poultry meat. Such information is lacking in the north India, where poultry meat is a preferred non-vegetarian food over other meats; therefore, this study determined the seroprevalence (based on detection of antibodies) and tissue prevalence (based on detection of DNA) of T. gondii in poultry meat intended for human consumption in north India. METHODS Samples (skeletal muscle and/heart as well as blood) were collected from slaughter poultry intended for human consumption reared in Punjab state (n = 366), Himachal Pradesh (n = 44) state, and Chandigarh union territory (n = 112) in North India. Serum samples were tested using commercially available Chicken T. gondii IgG ELISA kit to determine the serostatus. The DNA of T. gondii was detected by nested PCR. To determine the agreement between ELISA and PCR, Kappa value was estimated. RESULTS Overall, study reports 2.3% (95% CI 1.3%-4.1%) tissue prevalence and 6.5% (95% CI 4.6%-9.1%) seroprevalence from chickens reared in north India. Backyard poultry had significantly higher proportion of T. gondii (24.4%, 10/41; p < 0.001) than caged (0%, 0/284) and deep litter poultry (16.2%, 32/197). The sequence alignment score of three sequences obtained in this study showed 97-100% nucleotide identity with Type I RH strain and VEG type III strain. The agreement between ELISA and PCR was poor (Kappa = 0.145; 95% CI 0.07-0.22). Thus, a combination of serological and molecular tests can improve the diagnosis of T. gondii. CONCLUSION A low prevalence indicates that T. gondii in poultry presents a lower food safety risk for public health in north India; however, this study recommend cooking of poultry meat before consumption. Further studies are required to check the viability of T. gondii in poultry meat intended for human consumption, and to determine the risk factors associated and the genotypes circulating in poultry in north India.
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Račka K, Bártová E, Juránková J, Hamidović A, Kucharovičová I, Šimek B, Kočišová A. Fatal toxoplasmosis in wild European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) in tularaemia endemic areas of the Czech Republic: Poses risk of infection for humans? Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1774-1778. [PMID: 33190317 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii may cause fatal infection in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus). However, the role of this parasite in terms of mortality rate in tularaemia endemic areas, amount of parasites in affected organs and circulating genotypes, is still unknown. In total, 36 hares (killed or found dead) were submitted for pathomorphological examination as a part of the national tularaemia and brucellosis monitoring. Tissue samples (lung, heart, liver, spleen and kidney) were tested by quantitative real-time PCR targeting 529 bp region of T. gondii. Genotyping was performed by a 15 microsatellite markers method in a single multiplex PCR assay. The same tissues of hares were simultaneously used for the bacteriological cultivation. Toxoplasma gondii was detected by qPCR in the tissues of two hares. Spleen and lungs of one infected hare have been found harbouring up to ~7 millions of T. gondii parasites per gram of tissue. Both positive samples were characterized as T. gondii type II, one archetypal clonal type II and the other one a type II variant (W35 = 244). Bacteria Francisella tularensis was proved in pooled samples of three hares but without coinfection with T. gondii; all hares were negative for Brucella suis. Toxoplasma gondii has significant impact on mortality of European brown hares in tularaemia endemic areas and parasite load within the animal tissues may present high risk of human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Račka
- Department of Epizootology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Eva Bártová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juránková
- Department of Pathological Morphology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Azra Hamidović
- INSERM U1094, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, IRD, U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Ivana Kucharovičová
- Department of Bacteriology, State Veterinary Institute Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - Bronislav Šimek
- Department of Virology and Serology, State Veterinary Institute Jihlava, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - Alica Kočišová
- Department of Epizootology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia
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Plaza J, Dámek F, Villena I, Innes EA, Katzer F, Hamilton CM. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in retail meat samples in Scotland. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2020; 20:e00086. [PMID: 32577541 PMCID: PMC7303546 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2020.e00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a globally important zoonotic parasite ranked as one of the most significant causes of disease burden among the major foodborne pathogens. Consumption of undercooked meat is a well-known risk factor for infection so the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of T. gondii in meat samples from retail outlets in Scotland. In Sampling Period 1, 300 meat samples (39 beef, 21 chicken, 87 lamb, 71 pork and 82 venison) were purchased from butchers', farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets, and in Sampling Period 2, 67 pure venison samples only were purchased from farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets. DNA was extracted and screened for T. gondii using a quantitative PCR targeting the 529 bp repeat element, and any positive samples were genotyped using PCR-RFLP targeting 10 markers. Meat juice was screened for T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA or modified agglutination assay. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 0/39 (0%) beef samples, 1/21 (4.8%) chicken samples, 6/87 (6.9%) lamb samples, 3/71 (4.2%) pork samples and 29/82 (35.4%; Sampling Period 1) and 19/67 (28.4%; Sampling Period 2) venison samples. Partial PCR-RFLP genotyping revealed both clonal and non-clonal genotypes. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in the meat juice of 2/38 (5.3%) beef samples, 3/21 (14.3%) chicken samples, 14/85 (16.5%) lamb samples, 2/68 (2.9%) pork samples and 11/78 (14.1%; Sampling Period 1) and 8/50 (16%; Sampling Period 2) venison samples. This is the first study to report the presence of T. gondii in retail meat products in Scotland and has highlighted venison as a potentially high risk meat. Further work is required to determine viability of parasites in this particular meat product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Plaza
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Filip Dámek
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 7510, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Hospital University Centre of Reims, France
| | - Elisabeth A. Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Clare M. Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
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Fabian BT, Hedar F, Koethe M, Bangoura B, Maksimov P, Conraths FJ, Villena I, Aubert D, Seeber F, Schares G. Fluorescent bead-based serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:388. [PMID: 32736581 PMCID: PMC7393333 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04244-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Free-ranging chickens are often infected with Toxoplasma gondii and seroconvert upon infection. This indicates environmental contamination with T. gondii. METHODS Here, we established a bead-based multiplex assay (BBMA) using the Luminex technology for the detection of T. gondii infections in chickens. Recombinant biotinylated T. gondii surface antigen 1 (TgSAG1bio) bound to streptavidin-conjugated magnetic Luminex beads served as antigen. Serum antibodies were detected by a fluorophore-coupled secondary antibody. Beads of differing color codes were conjugated with anti-chicken IgY or chicken serum albumin and served for each sample as an internal positive or negative control, respectively. The assay was validated with sera from experimentally and naturally infected chickens. The results were compared to those from reference methods, including other serological tests, PCRs and bioassay in mice. RESULTS In experimentally infected chickens, the vast majority (98.5%, n = 65/66) of birds tested seropositive in the BBMA. This included all chickens positive by magnetic-capture PCR (100%, n = 45/45). Most, but not all inoculated and TgSAG1bio-BBMA-positive chickens were also positive in two previously established TgSAG1-ELISAs (TgSAG1-ELISASL, n = 61/65; or TgSAG1-ELISASH, n = 60/65), or positive in an immunofluorescence assay (IFAT, n = 64/65) and in a modified agglutination test (MAT, n = 61/65). All non-inoculated control animals (n = 28/28, 100%) tested negative. In naturally exposed chickens, the TgSAG1bio-BBMA showed a high sensitivity (98.5%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 90.7-99.9%) and specificity (100%; 95% CI: 85.0-100%) relative to a reference standard established using ELISA, IFAT and MAT. Almost all naturally exposed chickens that were positive in bioassay or by PCR tested positive in the TgSAG1bio-BBMA (93.5%; 95% CI: 77.1-98.9%), while all bioassay- or PCR-negative chickens remained negative (100%; 95% CI: 85.0-100%). CONCLUSIONS The TgSAG1bio-BBMA represents a suitable method for the detection of T. gondii infections in chickens with high sensitivity and specificity, which is comparable or even superior to other tests. Since assays based on this methodology allow for the simultaneous analysis of a single biological sample with respect to multiple analytes, the described assay may represent a component in future multiplex assays for broad serological monitoring of poultry and other farm animals for various pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt T. Fabian
- FG16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fatima Hedar
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Koethe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food Hygiene, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Berit Bangoura
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Parasitology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Isabelle Villena
- EA 7510, UFR Medecine, University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims, France
- Laboratory of Parasitology, National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Reims, France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- EA 7510, UFR Medecine, University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims, France
- Laboratory of Parasitology, National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Reims, France
| | - Frank Seeber
- FG16: Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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Epidemiologic significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens ( Gallus domesticus): the past decade. Parasitology 2020; 147:1263-1289. [PMID: 32660653 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020001134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Domestic free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. Chickens can be easily infected with T. gondii; however, clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in these hosts. Chickens are comparatively inexpensive and thus are good sentinel animals for T. gondii infections on the farms. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, the persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii strains isolated from chickens worldwide for the past decade. Data on phenotypic and molecular characteristics of 794 viable T. gondii strains from chickens are discussed, including new data on T. gondii isolates from chickens in Brazil. This paper will be of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians and parasitologists.
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Duong HD, Appiah-Kwarteng C, Takashima Y, Aye KM, Nagayasu E, Yoshida A. A novel luciferase-linked antibody capture assay (LACA) for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens. Parasitol Int 2020; 77:102125. [PMID: 32311471 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes the most common parasitic zoonosis worldwide in multiples species of mammals and birds. Although free-range chickens may play a role as an important reservoir for T. gondii, there is no reliable and commercially available diagnostic test for this disease in chickens. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel Luciferase-linked Antibody Capture Assay (LACA) for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma infection in chickens. Recombinant nanoluciferase fused-T. gondii dense granule antigen 8 (rNluc-GRA8) was produced and applied to LACA assay as a diagnostic antigen. GRA8-LACA was tested with the sera from uninfected and experimentally infected chickens with T. gondii and other parasitic pathogens and showed unexpectedly high sensitivity (90.5%) and specificity (95.4%). Interestingly, E. coli lysate expressing rNluc-GRA8 could be applied in GRA8-LACA with 85.7% sensitivity and an increased specificity (96.9%) that gave better diagnostic performance compared to conventional ELISA. We applied our diagnostic system to examine 267 free-range chicken sera collected from 12 farms and 100 closed-house broiler chicken sera from local poultry abattoirs. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in free-range chickens was 10.9% (95% CI: 10.6%-11.1%), while no positive case was found in broiler chickens. GRA8-LACA could be a useful diagnostic technique for T. gondii infection in chickens. The detection of T. gondii seropositive chickens in this study warns a potential risk of Toxoplasma transmission by the consumption of raw or undercooked chicken meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieu Duc Duong
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Viet Nam
| | - Cornelia Appiah-Kwarteng
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Khin Myo Aye
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Parasitology Research Division, Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Eiji Nagayasu
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Ayako Yoshida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Centre for Animal Diseases Control (CADIC), University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
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Seltmann A, Schares G, Aschenborn OHK, Heinrich SK, Thalwitzer S, Wachter B, Czirják GÁ. Species-specific differences in Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti seroprevalence in Namibian wildlife. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:7. [PMID: 31915056 PMCID: PMC6950991 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3871-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Knowledge about parasitic infections is crucial information for animal health, particularly of free-ranging species that might come into contact with livestock and humans. Methods We investigated the seroprevalence of three tissue-cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti) in 506 individuals of 12 wildlife species in Namibia using in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (indirect ELISAs applying purified antigens) for screening and immunoblots as confirmatory tests. We included six species of the suborder Feliformia, four species of the suborder Caniformia and two species of the suborder Ruminantia. For the two species for which we had most samples and life-history information, i.e. cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus, n = 250) and leopards (Panthera pardus, n = 58), we investigated T. gondii seroprevalence in relation to age class, sex, sociality (solitary, mother-offspring group, independent sibling group, coalition group) and site (natural habitat vs farmland). Results All but one carnivore species (bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis, n = 4) were seropositive to T. gondii, with a seroprevalence ranging from 52.4% (131/250) in cheetahs to 93.2% (55/59) in African lions (Panthera leo). We also detected antibodies to T. gondii in 10.0% (2/20) of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Adult cheetahs and leopards were more likely to be seropositive to T. gondii than subadult conspecifics, whereas seroprevalence did not vary with sex, sociality and site. Furthermore, we measured antibodies to N. caninum in 15.4% (2/13) of brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) and 2.6% (1/39) of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas). Antibodies to B. besnoiti were detected in 3.4% (2/59) of African lions and 20.0% (4/20) of blue wildebeest. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that Namibian wildlife species were exposed to apicomplexan parasites at different prevalences, depending on parasite and host species. In addition to serological work, molecular work is also needed to better understand the sylvatic cycle and the clear role of wildlife in the epidemiology of these parasites in southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Seltmann
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ortwin H K Aschenborn
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Sonja K Heinrich
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Bettina Wachter
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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Sarr A, Galal L, Boumediene F, Hamidović A, Dardé ML, Diallo M, Sow A, Niang Y, Cuny T, Mercier A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Free-Range Chickens in Senegal, West Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:15-21. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amedine Sarr
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Lokman Galal
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Farid Boumediene
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Azra Hamidović
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Marie-Laure Dardé
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
- Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Mamoudou Diallo
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Aliou Sow
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Youssoupha Niang
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar, Senegal
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier, Montferrier-sur-Lez, Cedex, France
| | - Thomas Cuny
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Aurélien Mercier
- INSERM UMR_S 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Limoges, Limoges, France
- Centre National de Référence Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
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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]
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Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in Free-Ranging Chickens from the Caribbean. Acta Parasitol 2019; 64:738-744. [PMID: 31111358 PMCID: PMC6908547 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00071-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite capable of infecting a wide range of hosts. Free-range chickens are important sentinels in the epidemiology of this parasite as they feed from the ground and are likely to ingest oocysts shed in the faeces of infected cats. Atypical strains of T. gondii are known to dominate in South America where they are associated with more severe disease in humans, yet relatively little is known about the strains circulating in neighbouring Caribbean islands.
Methods In this study, hearts and brains were collected from free-range chickens in Antigua and Barbuda (n = 45), Dominica (n = 76) and Trinidad (n = 41), and DNA was extracted for nested ITS1 PCR and PCR–RFLP. Sera were collected and screened for antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT).
Results Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 20.5, 38.2 and 17.1% of chickens in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Trinidad, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was also detected by PCR in 24.4, 17.1 and 17.1% of chickens, respectively, giving an overall prevalence of 31.1, 42.1, and 29.3% for each of the 3 island nations. Results of PCR–RFLP revealed 2 new atypical genotypes (designated ToxoDB #281 and #282) and one Type III (ToxoDB #2) in chickens from Antigua. Partial genotyping of a further 8 isolates (7 from Antigua and one from Trinidad) revealed different allele-types at five or more markers for 7 of the isolates, suggesting atypical genotypes. Conclusions This is the first study to report the prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chickens in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also the first to report the presence of atypical genotypes in Antigua and Barbuda and Trinidad and Tobago.
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Opsteegh M, Spano F, Aubert D, Balea A, Burrells A, Cherchi S, Cornelissen JBWJ, Dam-Deisz C, Guitian J, Györke A, Innes EA, Katzer F, Limon G, Possenti A, Pozio E, Schares G, Villena I, Wisselink HJ, van der Giessen JWB. The relationship between the presence of antibodies and direct detection of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered calves and cattle in four European countries. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:515-522. [PMID: 31108097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In cattle, antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii infection are frequently detected, but evidence for the presence of T. gondii tissue cysts in cattle is limited. To study the concordance between the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and viable tissue cysts of T. gondii in cattle, serum, liver and diaphragm samples of 167 veal calves and 235 adult cattle were collected in Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom. Serum samples were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG by the modified agglutination test and p30 immunoblot. Samples from liver were analyzed by mouse bioassay and PCR after trypsin digestion. In addition, all diaphragms of cattle that had tested T. gondii-positive (either in bioassay, by PCR on trypsin-digested liver or serologically by MAT) and a selection of diaphragms from cattle that had tested negative were analyzed by magnetic capture quantitative PCR (MC-PCR). Overall, 13 animals were considered positive by a direct detection method: seven out of 151 (4.6%) by MC-PCR and six out of 385 (1.6%) by bioassay, indicating the presence of viable parasites. As cattle that tested positive in the bioassay tested negative by MC-PCR and vice-versa, these results demonstrate a lack of concordance between the presence of viable parasites in liver and the detection of T. gondii DNA in diaphragm. In addition, the probability to detect T. gondii parasites or DNA in seropositive and seronegative cattle was comparable, demonstrating that serological testing by MAT or p30 immunoblot does not provide information about the presence of T. gondii parasites or DNA in cattle and therefore is not a reliable indicator of the risk for consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Opsteegh
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - F Spano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - D Aubert
- National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 7510, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Maison Blanche, Reims, France
| | - A Balea
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Romania
| | - A Burrells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - S Cherchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - J B W J Cornelissen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - C Dam-Deisz
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - J Guitian
- The Royal Veterinary College, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, AL9 7TA Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - A Györke
- Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372, Romania
| | - E A Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - F Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - G Limon
- The Royal Veterinary College, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, AL9 7TA Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - A Possenti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - E Pozio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - G Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - I Villena
- National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis, Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 7510, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CHU Maison Blanche, Reims, France
| | - H J Wisselink
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - J W B van der Giessen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Sharma R, Parker S, Al-Adhami B, Bachand N, Jenkins E. Comparison of tissues (heart vs. brain) and serological tests (MAT, ELISA and IFAT) for detection of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected wolverines ( Gulo gulo) from the Yukon, Canada. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00046. [PMID: 32095617 PMCID: PMC7034044 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic zoonosis worldwide. Many human and animal surveys use serological assays based on Toxoplasma gondii antibody detection in serum, a matrix that is not routinely available from wildlife. Commonly used serological assays have rarely been validated for use with fluids other than serum, nor validated for their performance in wildlife species. New molecular assays, such as magnetic capture DNA extraction and real-time PCR (MC-qPCR), offer high sensitivity for detection of T. gondii DNA in tissues. The aims of this study were to (1) assess prevalence of T. gondii DNA based on MC-qPCR detection in brain and heart of naturally infected wolverines (Gulo gulo) from the Yukon, Canada (2) compare two matrices [heart fluid (collected from thawed heart) and filter eluate (eluted from blood soaked filter paper)] for antibody detection in the same species, and (3) evaluate the performance of three serological tests [modified agglutination test (MAT), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT)] to detect naturally infected wolverines as determined by MC-qPCR. DNA of T. gondii was detected in heart and/or brain in 16 of 68 wolverines (24%, 95% CI: 15.0-34.8). Tissue prevalence and infection intensity was higher in heart [16 positives, mediantachyzoites equivalents per gram (TEG) =1221] compared to brain (10 positives, median TEG = 347). Heart fluid (HF) and filter eluates (FE) performed equally well in ELISA and IFAT in terms of relative sensitivity, but HF performed better with MAT. ELISA and IFAT had higher relative sensitivity (94%) and relative specificity (100%) compared to MAT (relative sensitivity 75% and relative specificity 92%). Overall, our findings indicate that the parasite burden in naturally infected wolverines was higher in heart compared to brain, heart fluid performed better than filter paper eluate for serological testing using MAT, and both IFAT and ELISA had higher relative sensitivity, relative specificity, and accuracy compared to MAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Sarah Parker
- Centre for Applied Epidemiology, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Batol Al-Adhami
- Centre for Food-borne and Animal Parasitology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Saskatoon Laboratory, 116 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2R3, Canada
| | - Nicholas Bachand
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
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Bier NS, Schares G, Johne A, Martin A, Nöckler K, Mayer-Scholl A. Performance of three molecular methods for detection of Toxoplasma gondii in pork. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 14:e00038. [PMID: 32095606 PMCID: PMC7034005 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparison of epidemiological data on the occurrence of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii tissue cysts in meat is hampered by the lack of standardization and a great variety of methods for molecular detection. Therefore, this study aimed to compare and validate three different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for detection of T. gondii DNA in pork. Analytical performance characteristics of two real time PCRs (qPCRs; Tg-qPCR1, Tg-qPCR2) and one conventional endpoint PCR (cPCR), all targeting the 529 repeated element, were assessed using genomic DNA of three clonal T. gondii types prevailing in Europe and North America. qPCR efficiencies for all three clonal types ranged between 93.8 and 94.4% (Tg-qPCR1) and 94.3–95.6% (Tg-qPCR2). Tg-qPCR1 and Tg-qPCR2 showed an overall PCR performance score of 85% and displayed a similar 95% detection limit of 1.067 and 1.561 genome equivalents per PCR reaction (GE/PCR), respectively. However, T. gondii DNA could be detected at concentrations as low as 0.1 GE/PCR. Reliable quantification is possible over 4 log ranges from 105 to 100 GE/PCR with mean repeatability relative standard deviations of ≤11% and reproducibility relative standard deviations of ≤12.7%. Presumably, both qPCRs are similarly suitable for sensitive and specific detection of T. gondii DNA in pork. In contrast, the cPCR using primer pair TOX5/Tox-8 proved to be highly sensitive with a detection limit of 1.41 GE/PCR, but not suitable for detection of T. gondii DNA in pork as unspecific amplification of porcine DNA was observed resulting in bands with similar size to the desired T. gondii-specific PCR product. Comparison of two real time PCRs and one conventional PCR targeting the 529 RE. Both real time PCRs show comparable performance and can be considered equivalent. qPCRs show 95% detection limits of 1.067 and 1.561 genome equivalents per PCR. Reliable quantification is possible over 4 log ranges from 105 to 100 GE/PCR. cPCR using primer pair TOX5/Tox-8 showed non-specific amplification of porcine DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja S Bier
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Annette Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annett Martin
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Exposure, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Nöckler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department for Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany
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Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii strains shaped by commensal communities of small mammals. Int J Parasitol 2018; 49:267-275. [PMID: 30578812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Commensal rodent species are key reservoirs for Toxoplasma gondii in the domestic environment. In rodents, different T. gondii strains show variable patterns of virulence according to host species. Toxoplasma gondii strains causing non-lethal chronic infections in local hosts will be more likely to persist in a given environment, but few studies have addressed the possible role of these interactions in shaping the T. gondii population structure. In addition, the absence of validated techniques for upstream detection of T. gondii chronic infection in wild rodents hinders exploration of this issue under natural conditions. In this study, we took advantage of an extensive survey of commensal small mammals in three coastal localities of Senegal, with a species assemblage constituted of both native African species and invasive species. We tested 828 individuals for T. gondii chronic infection using the modified agglutination test for antibody detection in serum samples and a quantitative PCR assay for detection of T. gondii DNA in brain samples. The infecting T. gondii strains were genotyped whenever possible by the analysis of 15 microsatellite markers. We found (i) a very poor concordance between molecular detection and serology in the invasive house mouse, (ii) significantly different levels of prevalence by species and (iii) the autochthonous T. gondii Africa 1 lineage strains, which are lethal for laboratory mice, only in the native African species of commensal small mammals. Overall, this study highlights the need to reconsider the use of MAT serology in natural populations of house mice and provides the first known data about T. gondii genetic diversity in invasive and native species of small mammals from Africa. In light of these results, we discuss the role of invasive and native species, with their variable adaptations to different T. gondii strains, in shaping the spatial structure of T. gondii genetic diversity in Africa.
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