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Lepore T, Macrae AI, Cantón GJ, Cantile C, Martineau HM, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Cahalan S, Underwood C, Katzer F, Chianini F. Evaluation of species-specific polyclonal antibodies to detect and differentiate between Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024; 36:418-427. [PMID: 38420701 PMCID: PMC11110786 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241234322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are major causes of abortion in livestock worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses. Detection tools are fundamental to the diagnosis and management of those diseases. Current immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests, using sera raised against whole parasite lysates, have not been able to distinguish between Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. We used T. gondii and N. caninum recombinant proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using insoluble conditions, to produce specific polyclonal rabbit antisera. We aimed to develop species-specific sera that could be used in IHC on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections to improve the diagnosis of ruminant abortions caused by protozoa. Two polyclonal rabbit sera, raised against recombinant proteins, anti-Neospora-rNcSRS2 and anti-Toxoplasma-rTgSRS2, had specificity for the parasite they were raised against. We tested the specificity for each polyclonal serum using FFPE tissue sections known to be infected with T. gondii and N. caninum. The anti-Neospora-rNcSRS2 serum labeled specifically only N. caninum-infected tissue blocks, and the anti-Toxoplasma-rTgSRS2 serum was specific to only T. gondii-infected tissues. Moreover, tissues from 52 cattle and 19 sheep previously diagnosed by lesion profiles were tested using IHC with our polyclonal sera and PCR. The overall agreement between IHC and PCR was 90.1% for both polyclonal anti-rNcSRS2 and anti-rTgSRS2 sera. The polyclonal antisera were specific and allowed visual confirmation of protozoan parasites by IHC, but they were not as sensitive as PCR testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alastair I. Macrae
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, Scotland, UK
| | - Germán J. Cantón
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Stephen Cahalan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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Calero-Bernal R, Fernández-Escobar M, Katzer F, Su C, Ortega-Mora LM. Unifying Virulence Evaluation in Toxoplasma gondii: A Timely Task. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:868727. [PMID: 35573788 PMCID: PMC9097680 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.868727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a major zoonotic pathogen, possess a significant genetic and phenotypic diversity that have been proposed to be responsible for the variation in clinical outcomes, mainly related to reproductive failure and ocular and neurological signs. Different T. gondii haplogroups showed strong phenotypic differences in laboratory mouse infections, which provide a suitable model for mimicking acute and chronic infections. In addition, it has been observed that degrees of virulence might be related to the physiological status of the host and its genetic background. Currently, mortality rate (lethality) in outbred laboratory mice is the most significant phenotypic marker, which has been well defined for the three archetypal clonal types (I, II and III) of T. gondii; nevertheless, such a trait seems to be insufficient to discriminate between different degrees of virulence of field isolates. Many other non-lethal parameters, observed both in in vivo and in vitro experimental models, have been suggested as highly informative, yielding promising discriminatory power. Although intra-genotype variations have been observed in phenotypic characteristics, there is no clear picture of the phenotypes circulating worldwide; therefore, a global overview of T. gondii strain mortality in mice is presented here. Molecular characterization has been normalized to some extent, but this is not the case for the phenotypic characterization and definition of virulence. The present paper proposes a baseline (minimum required information) for the phenotypic characterization of T. gondii virulence and intends to highlight the needs for consistent methods when a panel of T. gondii isolates is evaluated for virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rafael Calero-Bernal, ; Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora,
| | - Mercedes Fernández-Escobar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frank Katzer
- Disease Control Department, Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Rafael Calero-Bernal, ; Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora,
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Chiebao DP, Bartley PM, Chianini F, Black LE, Burrells A, Pena HFJ, Soares RM, Innes EA, Katzer F. Early immune responses and parasite tissue distribution in mice experimentally infected with oocysts of either archetypal or non-archetypal genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitology 2021; 148:464-476. [PMID: 33315001 PMCID: PMC11010124 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020002346] [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: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In most of the world Toxoplasma gondii is comprised of archetypal types (types I, II and III); however, South America displays several non-archetypal strains. This study used an experimental mouse model to characterize the immune response and parasite kinetics following infection with different parasite genotypes. An oral inoculation of 50 oocysts per mouse from T. gondii M4 type II (archetypal, avirulent), BrI or BrIII (non-archetypal, virulent and intermediate virulent, respectively) for groups (G)2, G3 and G4, respectively was used. The levels of mRNA expression of cytokines, immune compounds, cell surface markers and receptor adapters [interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-12, CD8, CD4, CD25, CXCR3 and MyD88] were quantified by SYBR green reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lesions were characterized by histology and detection by immunohistochemistry established distribution of parasites. Infection in G2 mice was mild and characterized by an early MyD88-dependent pathway. In G3, there were high levels of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFNγ and IL-12 in the mice showing severe clinical symptoms at 8–11 days post infection (dpi), combined with the upregulation of CD25, abundant tachyzoites and tissue lesions in livers, lungs and intestines. Significant longer expression of IFNγ and IL-12 genes, with other Th1-balanced immune responses, such as increased levels of CXCR3 and MyD88 in G4, resulted in survival of mice and chronic toxoplasmosis, with the occurrence of tissue cysts in brain and lungs, at 14 and 21 dpi. Different immune responses and kinetics of gene expression appear to be elicited by the different strains and non-archetypal parasites demonstrated higher virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela P. Chiebao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science – FMVZ, University of Sao Paulo, 87 Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paul M. Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Francesca Chianini
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Lauren E. Black
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Alison Burrells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Hilda F. J. Pena
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science – FMVZ, University of Sao Paulo, 87 Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo M. Soares
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science – FMVZ, University of Sao Paulo, 87 Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva Avenue, 05508-270São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elisabeth A. Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, EdinburghEH26 0PZ, UK
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Taggart PL, Caraguel CGB, McAllister MM. Fractional seroprevalence rates in common prey species can cause more than half of feral cats to be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii annually. Vet Parasitol 2020; 288:109306. [PMID: 33221602 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Rodents comprise a major component of cat (Felis catus) diets in many ecosystems, and life cycle diagrams of Toxoplasma gondii typically depict small rodents as quintessential intermediate hosts. Counter-intuitively, small rodents often experience a lower T. gondii seroprevalence than do larger sympatric mammals. This observation has repeatedly caused confusion about the relative importance of small rodents to the ecology of T. gondii. To address this confusion, we modified the Reed-Frost epidemic model to develop a simple binomial equation to model T. gondii transmission from prey to feline predators. This equation takes into account variations in prey seroprevalence and the frequency with which they are consumed by felids. Even when T. gondii seroprevalence in prey is < 1%, computation reveals that the risk of feline exposure to T. gondii can easily exceed 50 % annually. For example, if cats eat an average of 1 mouse per day, a seroprevalence of 0.2 % (1/500) in mice will cause 51.9 % of cats to be exposed to T. gondii annually. Our simple equation demonstrates that both prey seroprevalence and the rate at which prey are consumed are of approximately equal importance to the ecology of T. gondii. When inferring the importance of various prey species to the ecology of T. gondii, researchers must consider the predation and dietary habits of felids from within their study system. Our simple binomial equation could also be used to predict T. gondii exposure rates of humans or other carnivorous animals from various dietary sources or be applied to other predator-prey parasite life cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Taggart
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia; Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW, 2800 Australia.
| | - Charles G B Caraguel
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - Milton M McAllister
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
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Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH, Su C. Economic and public health importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep: 2009-2020. Vet Parasitol 2020; 286:109195. [PMID: 32979682 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, control, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in sheep in the past decade. There is debate and uncertainty concerning repeat congenital infection as evidenced by finding T. gondii DNA in progeny of chronically infected sheep. However, there is no concrete evidence that T. gondii is the cause of repeated abortions in sheep. Recent data concerning pathogenesis of abortion in acutely infected sheep are reviewed. PCR-RFLP typing of T. gondii DNA derived from viable T. gondii isolates or tissues of infected sheep revealed low genetic diversity in sheep in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America but high diversity in South America. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
| | - F H A Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - C K Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - O C H Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
| | - C Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0845, USA
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Dubey J, Murata F, Cerqueira-Cézar C, Kwok O, Su C. WITHDRAWN: Economic and public health importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in sheep: the last decade. Vet Parasitol X 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vpoa.2020.100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Stelzer S, Basso W, Benavides Silván J, Ortega-Mora L, Maksimov P, Gethmann J, Conraths F, Schares G. Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00037. [PMID: 32095611 PMCID: PMC7033994 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Felids, including domestic cats, are definitive hosts that can shed oocysts with their feces. In addition to infections that occur by accidental oral uptake of food or water contaminated with oocysts, it is assumed that a large proportion of affected humans may have become infected by consuming meat or other animal products that contained infective parasitic stages of T. gondii. Since farm animals represent a direct source of infection for humans, but also a possible reservoir for the parasite, it is important to control T. gondii infections in livestock. Moreover, T. gondii may also be pathogenic to livestock where it could be responsible for considerable economic losses in some regions and particular farming systems, e.g. in areas where the small ruminant industry is relevant. This review aims to summarize actual knowledge on the prevalence and effects of infections with T. gondii in the most important livestock species and on the effects of toxoplasmosis on livestock. It also provides an overview on potential risk factors favoring infections of livestock with T. gondii. Knowledge on potential risk factors is prerequisite to implement effective biosecurity measures on farms to prevent T. gondii infections. Risk factors identified by many studies are cat-related, but also those associated with a potential contamination of fodder or water, and with access to a potentially contaminated environment. Published information on the costs T. gondii infections cause in livestock production, is scarce. The most recent peer reviewed reports from Great Britain and Uruguay suggest annual cost of about 5-15 million US $ per country. Since these estimates are outdated, future studies are needed to estimate the present costs due to toxoplasmosis in livestock. Further, the fact that T. gondii infections in livestock may affect human health needs to be considered and the respective costs should also be estimated, but this is beyond the scope of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Stelzer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - W. Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - J. Benavides Silván
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León) Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - L.M. Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - P. Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - J. Gethmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - F.J. Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - G. Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
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Hamilton CM, Black L, Oliveira S, Burrells A, Bartley PM, Melo RPB, Chianini F, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Innes EA, Kelly PJ, Katzer F. Comparative virulence of Caribbean, Brazilian and European isolates of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:104. [PMID: 30871587 PMCID: PMC6416883 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3372-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of global importance. The outcome of infection in humans can depend on a number of factors including the infecting stage of the parasite, inoculating dose and virulence of the infecting strain. Molecular epidemiological studies have demonstrated an abundance of atypical strains of T. gondii in South America, many of which have been associated with more severe sequelae of infection. The aim of this study was to compare the virulence of T. gondii strains isolated in the Caribbean to a virulent Brazilian strain and an avirulent European strain. Methods One hundred and twenty Swiss CD-1 mice were split into 8 groups of 15 mice and each group was inoculated with 200 tachyzoites of one of 8 isolates, comprising ToxoDB genotypes #1, #141, #265, #13, #3 and #6. Five mice per group were euthanized at day 8 post-inoculation (p.i.) and parasite burden was determined in heart, lungs and eyes using quantitative PCR. Lungs and brain were also examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The remaining 10 mice per group were part of a survival experiment to assess virulence. DNA was extracted from tachyzoites of each of the 8 T. gondii isolates and genotyped at four ROP gene loci, including ROP5, ROP16, ROP17 and ROP18 to look for association with markers of virulence. Results Infection with ToxoDB genotype #13 from the Caribbean resulted in 100% of mice being euthanized which was comparative to infection with the virulent Brazilian strain (ToxoDB genotype #6). Significantly higher parasite burdens were recorded in the lungs and eyes of mice infected with ToxoDB genotypes #13 and #6. Genotyping of ROP loci revealed that the virulent Caribbean isolates had a different ROP18/ROP5 allelic profile (3/1) to the virulent Brazilian isolate (1/3); however, the avirulent Caribbean isolate (ToxoDB genotype #1) had the same ROP18/ROP5 profile as the avirulent European isolate (ToxoDB #3) (both 2/2). Caribbean isolates of intermediate virulence (ToxoDB #141 and #265) all had the same ROP18/ROP5 allelic profile (2/2). Conclusions Isolates from the Caribbean with ToxoDB genotype #13 were acutely virulent for mice and comparable to a known virulent Brazilian isolate. The ROP protein allelic profile of the virulent Caribbean and Brazilian isolates differed indicating that perhaps other factors are involved in predicting virulence. Understanding virulence is important for predicting disease outcome in humans and may also aid vaccine design as well as drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK.
| | - Lauren Black
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Solange Oliveira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Alison Burrells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Paul M Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Renata Pimentel B Melo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Infectious-Contagious Diseases of Domestic Animals, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil
| | - Francesca Chianini
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | | | - Elisabeth A Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Patrick J Kelly
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Island Main Road, West Farm, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
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Burrells A, Taroda A, Opsteegh M, Schares G, Benavides J, Dam-Deisz C, Bartley PM, Chianini F, Villena I, van der Giessen J, Innes EA, Katzer F. Detection and dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii in experimentally infected calves, a single test does not tell the whole story. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:45. [PMID: 29347971 PMCID: PMC5774111 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in bovine tissues is rare, beef might be an important source of human infection. The use of molecular techniques, such as magnetic capture qPCR (MC-qPCR), in combination with the gold standard method for isolating the parasite (mouse bioassay), may increase the sensitivity of T. gondii detection in infected cattle. The risk of transmission of the parasite to humans from undercooked/raw beef is not fully known and further knowledge about the predilection sites of T. gondii within cattle is needed. In the current study, six Holstein Friesian calves (Bos taurus) were experimentally infected with 106 T. gondii oocysts of the M4 strain and, following euthanasia (42 dpi), pooled tissues were tested for presence of the parasite by mouse bioassay and MC-qPCR. Results Toxoplasma gondii was detected by both MC-qPCR and mouse bioassay from distinct pools (100 g) of tissues comprising: liver, tongue, heart, diaphragm, semitendinosus (hindlimb), longissimus dorsi muscle (sirloin) and psoas major muscle (fillet). When a selection of individual tissues which had been used for mouse bioassay were examined by MC-qPCR, parasite DNA could only be detected from two animals, despite all calves showing seroconversion after infection. Conclusions It is apparent that one individual test will not provide an answer as to whether a calf harbours T. gondii tissue cysts. Although the calves received a known number of infectious oocysts and highly sensitive methods for the detection of the parasite within bovine tissues were applied (mouse bioassay and MC-qPCR), the results confirm previous studies which report low presence of viable T. gondii in cattle and no clear predilection site within bovine tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Burrells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland
| | - Alessandra Taroda
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland.,Protozoology Laboratory, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina - UEL, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Marieke Opsteegh
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, - Insel Riems, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Cecile Dam-Deisz
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Paul M Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland
| | - Francesca Chianini
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland
| | - Isabella Villena
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre National de Référence de la Toxoplasmose, Centre de Ressources Biologiques Toxoplasma, Cédex, Reims, France
| | - Joke van der Giessen
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth A Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland
| | - Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland.
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Toxoplasma gondii transmission by artificial insemination in sheep with experimentally contaminated frozen semen. Theriogenology 2017; 90:169-174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Opsteegh M, Schares G, Blaga R, van der Giessen J. Experimental studies on Toxoplasma gondii in the main livestock species (GP/EFSA/BIOHAZ/2013/01) Final report. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2016.en-995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marieke Opsteegh
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) the Netherlands
| | | | - Radu Blaga
- National Veterinary School of Alfort (ENVA ‐JRU BIPAR) France
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Nunes ACBT, Silva EMVD, Oliveira JAD, Yamasaki EM, Kim PDCP, Almeida JCD, Nunes KB, Mota RA. Application of different techniques to detect Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered sheep for human consumption. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2015; 24:416-21. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612015076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep slaughtered in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, by means of different diagnosis techniques. Serum samples and tissues from 100 slaughtered sheep were used. To detect antibodies, the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was used, and tissues from seropositive animals (cut-off ≥1:64) were submitted to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). To assess the concordance between the direct techniques, the kappa test was used. In the IFAT, it was observed that 14% (14/100) of the ovine samples were serum-positive. In the PCR, 21.43% (3/14) of the animals were positive and in IHC, it was observed that 7.14% (1/14) were positively stained for T. gondii in cerebral tissue. Histopathologically, the predominant finding was the presence of mononuclear cell infiltrate in the heart and a perivascular cuff in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The concordance between the direct diagnosis techniques was moderate (k=0.44). Thus, it is important to use different direct techniques in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in naturally infected sheep.
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English ED, Adomako-Ankomah Y, Boyle JP. Secreted effectors in Toxoplasma gondii and related species: determinants of host range and pathogenesis? Parasite Immunol 2015; 37:127-40. [PMID: 25655311 PMCID: PMC4359005 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed the discovery of a number of secreted proteins in Toxoplasma gondii that play important roles in host-pathogen interactions and parasite virulence, particularly in the mouse model. However, the role that these proteins play in driving the unique features of T. gondii compared to some of its nearest apicomplexan relatives (Hammondia hammondi and Neospora caninum) is unknown. These unique features include distinct dissemination characteristics in vivo and a vast host range. In this review we comprehensively survey what is known about disease outcome, the host response and host range for T. gondii, H. hammondi, and N. caninum. We then review what is presently known about recently identified secreted virulence effectors in these three genetically related, but phenotypically distinct, species. Finally we exploit the existence of genome sequences for these three organisms and discuss what is known about the presence, and functionality, of key T. gondii effectors in these three species.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D English
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Verhelst D, De Craeye S, Entrican G, Dorny P, Cox E. Parasite distribution and associated immune response during the acute phase of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:293. [PMID: 25511864 PMCID: PMC4279818 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0293-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many countries, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a major cause of reproductive disorders and abortions in the sheep industry, and therefore responsible for important financial and economic losses. In addition, undercooked infected lamb is an important risk factor for human toxoplasmosis. In the present study, the initial phase of the infection was investigated: the parasite's entry site, the subsequent distribution of the parasite and the host-immune response. RESULTS Parasite DNA was already detected in the cranial small intestinal mucosa the first days after oral infection with T. gondii tissue cysts. Simultaneously, high IFN-gamma and IL-12 responses were induced mainly in the mesenteric lymph nodes. The emergence of IgG1 (at 8dpi), and IgG2 (at 11 dpi) was accompanied by a decrease or even disappearance of the IFN-gamma and IL-12 response in the Peyers' patches (PP), PBMC's and popliteal LN's. Meanwhile the parasite DNA could be recovered from most mucosal and systemic tissues to become undetectable in the small intestine, popliteal LN, PBMC and spleen 3 weeks pi. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that parasites enter the cranial small intestine the first days after infection and that after an increase the first two weeks after infection, the parasite DNA levels in the intestine drop below the detection limit three weeks after infection. This coincides with an increase in parastic-specific serum IgG1 and IgG2 and a decrease of the antigen-specific IFN-gamma response in PP, PBMC and popliteal LN. We suggest a role for IFN-gamma and IL-12 in controlling the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfien Verhelst
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stéphane De Craeye
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Operational Direction Communicable and Infectious Diseases, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Gary Entrican
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK.
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Eric Cox
- Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Katzer F, Canton G, Burrells A, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Horton B, Bartley PM, Pang Y, Chianini F, Innes EA, Benavides J. Immunization of lambs with the S48 strain of Toxoplasma gondii reduces tissue cyst burden following oral challenge with a complete strain of the parasite. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:46-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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González-Warleta M, Castro-Hermida JA, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Benavides J, Álvarez-García G, Fuertes M, Ortega-Mora LM, Mezo M. Neospora caninum infection as a cause of reproductive failure in a sheep flock. Vet Res 2014; 45:88. [PMID: 25158756 PMCID: PMC4153895 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-014-0088-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum has been detected only sporadically in cases of ovine abortion, and it has therefore traditionally been considered as an unimportant parasite in small ruminants. This study was carried out with the aim of identifying the pathogen causing serious reproductive problems on a commercial sheep farm. Sera from all rams and ewes tested negative for antibodies against Border disease virus, Schmallenberg virus and Coxiella burnetii, and infections by these agents were therefore ruled out. Nevertheless, seropositivity to N. caninum and/or Toxoplasma gondii was detected, although the seroprevalence was higher in the case of N. caninum. The percentage of lambings and the number of lambs per dam were significantly lower in ewes that were seropositive to N. caninum while no effect on these parameters was detected in ewes that were seropositive to T. gondii. There was also no evidence of infection by T. gondii in the foetal/lamb tissues analyzed by PCR and/or immunohistopathological techniques. On the contrary, the DNA of N. caninum was detected in 13 out of 14 foetuses/lambs descendant from dams seropositive to this parasite. Characteristic lesions caused by N. caninum and/or its antigen were also detected. Genotyping of the N. caninum DNA revealed only two closely related microsatellite multilocus genotypes. The results clearly demonstrate that infection by N. caninum was the cause of the low reproductive performance of this sheep flock.
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Castaño P, Fuertes M, Ferre I, Fernández M, Ferreras MDC, Moreno-Gonzalo J, González-Lanza C, Katzer F, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Ortega-Mora LM, Pérez V, Benavides J. Placental thrombosis in acute phase abortions during experimental Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep. Vet Res 2014; 45:9. [PMID: 24475786 PMCID: PMC3931317 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-45-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
After oral administration of ewes during mid gestation with 2000 freshly prepared sporulated oocysts of T. gondii isolate M4, abortions occurred between days 7 and 11 in 91.6% of pregnant and infected ewes. Afterwards, a further infection was carried out at late gestation in another group of sheep with 500 sporulated oocysts. Abortions happened again between days 9 and 11 post infection (pi) in 58.3% of the infected ewes. Classically, abortions in natural and experimental ovine toxoplasmosis usually occur one month after infection. Few experimental studies have reported the so-called acute phase abortions as early as 7 to 14 days after oral inoculation of oocysts, and pyrexia was proposed to be responsible for abortion, although the underline mechanism was not elucidated. In the present study, all placentas analysed from ewes suffering acute phase abortions showed infarcts and thrombosis in the caruncullar villi of the placentomes and ischemic lesions (periventricular leukomalacia) in the brain of some foetuses. The parasite was identified by PCR in samples from some placentomes of only one sheep, and no antigen was detected by immunohistochemical labelling. These findings suggest that the vascular lesions found in the placenta, and the consequent hypoxic damage to the foetus, could be associated to the occurrence of acute phase abortions. Although the pathogenesis of these lesions remains to be determined, the infectious dose or virulence of the isolate may play a role in their development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Julio Benavides
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain.
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Immunohistochemical identification of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues from Modified Agglutination Test positive sheep. Vet Parasitol 2013; 191:347-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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