1
|
Dámek F, Basso W, Joeres M, Thoumire S, Swart A, Silva AD, Gassama I, Škorič M, Smola J, Schares G, Blaga R, Koudela B. Infection dynamics following experimental challenge of pigs orally dosed with different stages of two archetypal genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii. Vet Parasitol 2024; 330:110222. [PMID: 38878463 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110222] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a food-borne zoonotic parasite widespread in a variety of hosts, including humans. With a majority of infections in Europe estimated to be meat-borne, pork, as one of the most consumed meats worldwide, represents a potential risk for consumers. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the progress of T. gondii infection and tissue tropism in experimentally infected pigs, using different T. gondii isolates and infectious stages, i.e. tissue cysts or oocysts. Twenty-four pigs were allocated to treatment in four groups of six, with each group inoculated orally with an estimated low dose of either 400 oocysts or 10 tissue cysts of two European T. gondii isolates, a type II and a type III isolate. The majority of pigs seroconverted two weeks post-inoculation. Pigs infected with the type III isolate had significantly higher levels of anti-T. gondii antibodies compared to those infected with the type II isolate. Histopathological exams revealed reactive hyperplasia of the lymphatic tissue of all pigs. Additionally, a selected set of nine tissues was collected during necropsy at 50 dpi from each of the remaining 22 pigs for T. gondii DNA detection by quantitative real-time PCR. A positive result was obtained in 29.8 % (59/139) of tested tissues. The brain was identified as the most frequently positive tissue in 63.6 % (14/22) of the animals. In contrast, liver samples tested negative in all animals. The highest mean parasite load, calculated by interpolating the average Cq values on the standard curve made of ten-fold serial dilutions of the genomic DNA, corresponding to 100 to 104 tachyzoites/µL, was observed in shoulder musculature with an estimated concentration of 84.4 [0.0-442.5] parasites per gram of tissue. The study highlights the variability in clinical signs and tissue distribution of T. gondii in pigs based on the combination of parasite stages and strains, with type III isolates, particularly oocysts, causing a stronger antibody response and higher tissue parasite burden. These findings suggest the need for further investigation of type III isolates to better understand their potential risks to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filip Dámek
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort Cedex 94701, France.
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Maike Joeres
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, Greifswald, Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Sandra Thoumire
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort Cedex 94701, France
| | - Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven 3720 BA, the Netherlands
| | - Anaëlle da Silva
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort Cedex 94701, France
| | - Inés Gassama
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort Cedex 94701, France
| | - Miša Škorič
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackého tř. 1946/1, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Smola
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackého tř. 1946/1, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), University of Veterinary Sciences, Palackého tř. 1, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, Greifswald, Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Radu Blaga
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort Cedex 94701, France; University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
| | - Břetislav Koudela
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackého tř. 1946/1, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), University of Veterinary Sciences, Palackého tř. 1, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Symeonidou I, Sioutas G, Lazou T, Gelasakis AI, Papadopoulos E. A Review of Toxoplasma gondii in Animals in Greece: A FoodBorne Pathogen of Public Health Importance. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2530. [PMID: 37570337 PMCID: PMC10416908 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152530] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoon with a complex life cycle and the second most important foodborne pathogen in Europe. Surveillance of toxoplasmosis is based on national considerations since there are no mandatory controls along the food chain in the European Union, and underreporting of meat is still a problem in many countries like Greece. The current review provides an overview of T. gondii prevalence, associated risk factors, and surveillance in animals in Greece, focusing on the transmission role of meat and highlighting the control measures that should be adopted by consumers. Sows, wild boars, hares, equines, and cats had lower, while sheep and goats generally had higher seroprevalence than their respective pooled European and global values. Seroprevalence in chickens was similar between Greece and Europe, while there was high variation in cattle studies, with no data regarding dairy products. Though a comprehensive meat safety assurance system is the most effective approach to control the principal biological hazards associated with meat, such as T. gondii, the prerequisite risk categorisation of farms and abattoirs based on EFSA's proposed harmonised epidemiological indicators has not materialised as yet in Greece. Therefore, comprehensive control strategies are still required to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaia Symeonidou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Georgios Sioutas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Thomai Lazou
- Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin—Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Athanasios I. Gelasakis
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece;
| | - Elias Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.S.); (G.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dámek F, Fremaux B, Aubert D, Thoumire S, Delsart M, Martin JL, Vuillermet S, Opsteegh M, Jokelainen P, Le Roux D, Boireau P, Villena I, Blaga R. Inactivation of Toxoplasma gondii in dry sausage and processed pork, and quantification of the pathogen in pig tissues prior to production. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2023; 31:e00194. [PMID: 37250657 PMCID: PMC10209801 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic foodborne parasite. Meat of infected animals appears to be a major source of infection in Europe. Pork is the most consumed meat in France, with dry sausages well represented. The risk of transmission via consumption of processed pork products is largely unknown, mainly since processing will affect viability but may not entirely inactivate all T. gondii parasites. We investigated the presence and concentration of T. gondii DNA in the shoulder, breast, ham, and heart of pigs orally inoculated with 1000 oocysts (n = 3) or tissue cysts (n = 3) and naturally infected pigs (n = 2), by means of magnetic capture qPCR (MC-qPCR). Muscle tissues of experimentally infected pigs were further used to evaluate the impact of manufacturing processes of dry sausages, including different concentrations of nitrates (0, 60, 120, 200 ppm), nitrites (0, 60, 120 ppm), and NaCl (0, 20, 26 g/kg), ripening (2 days at 16-24 °C) and drying (up to 30 days at 13 °C), by a combination of mouse bioassay, qPCR and MC-qPCR. DNA of T. gondii was detected in all eight pigs, including in 41.7% (10/24) of muscle samples (shoulder, breast and ham) and 87.5% (7/8) of hearts by MC-qPCR. The number of parasites per gram of tissue was estimated to be the lowest in the hams (arithmetic mean (M) = 1, standard deviation (SD) = 2) and the highest in the hearts (M = 147, SD = 233). However, the T. gondii burden estimates varied on the individual animal level, the tissue tested and the parasitic stage used for the experimental infection (oocysts or tissue cysts). Of dry sausages and processed pork, 94.4% (51/54) were positive for T. gondii by MC-qPCR or qPCR, with the mean T. gondii burden estimate equivalent to 31 parasites per gram (SD = 93). Only the untreated processed pork sample collected on the day of production was positive by mouse bioassay. The results suggest an uneven distribution of T. gondii in the tissues examined, and possibly an absence or a concentration below the detection limit in some of them. Moreover, the processing of dry sausages and processed pork with NaCl, nitrates, and nitrites has an impact on the viability of T. gondii from the first day of production. Results are valuable input for future risk assessments aiming to estimate the relative contribution of different sources of T. gondii human infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filip Dámek
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Bastien Fremaux
- IFIP - Institut du Porc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Resources Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, USC EpiToxo Anses, France
| | - Sandra Thoumire
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Maxime Delsart
- Anses, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale USC EPIMAI, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-Luc Martin
- IFIP - Institut du Porc, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sandra Vuillermet
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marieke Opsteegh
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Statens Serum Institut, Infectious Disease Preparedness, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Delphine Le Roux
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Pascal Boireau
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Isabelle Villena
- National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma Biological Resources Centre, CHU Reims and EA7510, SFR CAP-Santé, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, USC EpiToxo Anses, France
| | - Radu Blaga
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Engel L, Hamedy A, Koethe M. Direct detection and quantification of Toxoplasma gondii in meat samples from feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany by magnetic-capture real-time PCR. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:307-313. [PMID: 36401669 PMCID: PMC9816176 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07730-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Because the number of wild raccoons in Germany is increasing constantly, it appears to be economic reasonable to use their meat as food. For this purpose, it is essential to generate data regarding the pathogen load of the meat to be consumed and handled. It is known that raccoons, particularly in Germany, show a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. Because serological data only indicates contact of a host to a parasite additional direct detection is needed to prove presence of parasitic stages in particular tissues. Therefore, a total of 150 samples from raccoons with known serostatus were tested and quantified using magnetic-capture real-time PCR for Toxoplasma gondii. As it represents potentially consumption-relevant parts of raccoons, meat from forelimb and hindlimb was examined. Samples were stratified into three groups based on the animals' serostatus (each 50 negative, low positive, and high positive). All samples from seronegative animals were found negative by MC-PCR as well. In a total of 56 meat samples from 100 seropositive animals, T. gondii DNA was detected. Statistically significant more samples were positive by MC-PCR in the high positive than in the low positive serostatus group (38/50 vs. 18/50, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, samples from the former group were also found to have statistically significant higher DNA equivalent values compared to samples from the low positive serostatus group (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that meat from seropositive raccoons may contain considerable numbers of T. gondii presenting a potential public health risk for humans whilst handling and consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Engel
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Ahmad Hamedy
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Koethe
- Institute of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sina S, Mohammad JM, Reza S, Anita M, Soudabeh E, Hadi M. Determination of parasitic burden in the brain tissue of infected mice in acute toxoplasmosis after treatment by fluconazole combined with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. Eur J Med Res 2021; 26:65. [PMID: 34193287 PMCID: PMC8243906 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-021-00537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS One of the opportunistic pathogens which cause serious problems in the human immune system is Toxoplasma gondii, with toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) seen in patients affected by it. The treatment of these patients is limited, and if not treated on time, death will be possible. METHODS In this study, the effects of the treatment with different doses of fluconazole (FLZ) in combination with the current treatment of acute toxoplasmosis on reducing the mortality rate and the parasitic load in the murine model in vivo were studied. The mice were treated with different doses of fluconazole alone, sulfadiazine, and pyrimethamine plus fluconazole. A day after the end of the treatment and 1 day before death, the mice's brains were collected, and after DNA extraction and molecular tests, the parasite burden was detected. RESULTS This study showed that a 10-day treatment with 20 mg/kg of fluconazole combined with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine 1.40 mg/kg per day affected acute toxoplasmosis and reduced the parasitic load significantly in brain tissues and also increased the survival rate of all mice in this group until the last day of the study, in contrast to other treatment groups. These results also indicate the positive effects of combined therapy on Toxoplasma gondii and the prevention of relapse. CONCLUSIONS Reducing the parasitic burden and increasing the survival rate were more effective against acute toxoplasmosis in the combined treatment of different doses of fluconazole with current treatments than current treatments without fluconazole. In other words, combination therapy with fluconazole plus pyrimethamine reduced the parasitic burden in the brain significantly, so it could be a replacement therapy in patients with intolerance sulfadiazine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sekandarpour Sina
- Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistance Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Jafari Modrek Mohammad
- Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistance Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Shafiei Reza
- Vector-Borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Mohammadiha Anita
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Etemadi Soudabeh
- Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistance Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Mirahmadi Hadi
- Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Resistance Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH. Public health and economic importance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in goats: The last decade. Res Vet Sci 2020; 132:292-307. [PMID: 32711218 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Toxoplasmosis in goats continues to be of public health and economic concern. The present review summarizes worldwide information on the prevalence of clinical and subclinical infections, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic diversity of T. gondii in goats in the past decade. There is debate and uncertainty regarding excretion of T. gondii in milk and the ingestion of raw milk as sources of T. gondii infection for humans. Toxoplasmosis can cause abortion and deaths even in adult goats. PCR-RFLP typing of T. gondii DNA derived from viable T. gondii isolates has revealed genetic diversity in goats in North and South America. The significance of T. gondii isolates in domestic goats usually associated with wildlife in USA is discussed. This review will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, veterinarians, and public health workers.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gazzonis AL, Zanzani SA, Villa L, Manfredi MT. Toxoplasma gondii infection in meat-producing small ruminants: Meat juice serology and genotyping. Parasitol Int 2020; 76:102060. [PMID: 31962194 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The consumption of ovine and caprine meat is considered one of the major transmission routes for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. The present study aimed at obtaining epidemiological and molecular data on T. gondii infection in small ruminants slaughtered or commercialized in Italy. Meat juices from 227 sheep and 51 goats were analyzed with a commercial ELISA and antibodies were detected in 28.6% sheep and 27.5% goats. A significant difference was highlighted between adult sheep and the other considered categories (young sheep, young and adult goats) concerning the detection of antibodies (94.1%; p-value = .008). Muscles of positives samples were submitted to molecular analysis, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 15 sheep and three goats; sequencing of B1 gene showed that all belonged to Type II. The present study confirmed small ruminants' meat as a possible source of T. gondii infection for consumers eating raw or undercooked meat, particularly in those countries where the consumption of sheep and goats' meat products is a traditional gastronomic habit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Libera Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
| | - Sergio Aurelio Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Paştiu AI, Cozma-Petruț A, Mercier A, Balea A, Galal L, Mircean V, Pusta DL, Bogdan L, Györke A. Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected backyard pigs intended for familial consumption in Romania. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:586. [PMID: 31842955 PMCID: PMC6915976 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3842-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foodborne toxoplasmosis in humans can be due to the exposure to tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii through the consumption of meat, including pork, of infected animals. Traditional Romanian food habits include pork as the preferred meat, while backyard pig rearing remains a common practice in many rural areas of Romania. The aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in naturally infected backyard pigs slaughtered for familial consumption and to genetically characterize the T. gondii strains obtained. METHODS Paired blood and heart samples were collected from 94 backyard pigs, home slaughtered for private consumption. Serum samples were analyzed using the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for anti-T. gondii antibody detection. Heart samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 529-bp repeat region (REP529) for T. gondii detection. In addition, heart samples from IFAT positive animals were bioassayed in mice. The T. gondii isolates were genotyped by the analysis of 15 microsatellite markers. RESULTS The results showed that almost half of the pigs investigated were T. gondii seropositive (46.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 36.4-57.4%) and in more than a quarter of the pigs (26.6%, 95% CI: 18.0-36.7%), the parasite was detected by PCR. Three (3/44) T. gondii strains were isolated from hearts of seropositive pigs and they all belonged to genotype II. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed the presence of T. gondii infection in backyard pigs in Romania, which suggests that consumption of pork from animals reared and slaughtered at home may pose a potential threat to human health and should be given attention. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first study to provide data concerning T. gondii strains circulating in pigs from Romania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Ioana Paştiu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
- Department of Genetics and Hereditary Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - Anamaria Cozma-Petruț
- Department of Bromatology, Hygiene, Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - 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, 2 Martin Luther King Street, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Anamaria Balea
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - Lokman Galal
- 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, 2 Martin Luther King Street, 87042 Limoges, France
| | - Viorica Mircean
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - Dana Liana Pusta
- Department of Genetics and Hereditary Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - Liviu Bogdan
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Pathology of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| | - Adriana Györke
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Cluj Romania
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
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]
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kornacka A, Cybulska A, Moskwa B. Comparison of sensitivity of two primer sets for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in wildlife. Acta Parasitol 2018; 63:634-639. [PMID: 29975648 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2018-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a coccidian parasite known to infect almost all warm-blooded animals, is the cause of one of the most common zoonotic parasitic diseases. The aim of the study is to determine whether the 529 bp fragment or the TGR1E gene is more useful target for PCR identification of T. gondii, for common use. The brains of 221 carnivores and omnivores collected between 2013 and 2015 from north-eastern Poland were examined for the presence of this parasite. The DNA was extracted and then amplified using specific primers. Positive results were obtained in 24% of brain samples using the TGR1E target and 19% using the 529 bp sequence. The results demonstrate that both TGR1E and 529 bp repeat element are suitable for detecting T. gondii DNA in wildlife animals, and the combination of two methods is necessary to obtain reliable results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kornacka
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Cybulska
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bożena Moskwa
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens – performance of various antibody detection techniques in serum and meat juice relative to bioassay and DNA detection methods. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:751-762. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
|
14
|
Condoleo R, Rinaldi L, Sette S, Mezher Z. Risk Assessment of Human Toxoplasmosis Associated with the Consumption of Pork Meat in Italy. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2018; 38:1202-1222. [PMID: 29098702 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan disease and has a broad range of hosts, including humans and several wild and domestic animals. The human infection is mostly acquired through the consumption of contaminated food and pork meat has been recognized as one of the major sources of transmission. There are, however, certain fundamental differences between countries; therefore, the present study specifically aims to evaluate the exposure of the Italian population to Toxoplasma gondii through the ingestion of several types of pork meat products habitually consumed in Italy and to estimate the annual number of human infections within two subgroups of the population. A quantitative risk assessment model was built for this reason and was enriched with new elements in comparison to other similar risk assessments in order to enhance its accuracy. Sensitivity analysis and two alternative scenarios were implemented to identify the factors that have the highest impact on risk and to simulate different plausible conditions, respectively. The estimated overall average number of new infections per year among adults is 12,513 and 92 for pregnant women. The baseline model showed that almost all these infections are associated with the consumption of fresh meat cuts and preparations (mean risk of infection varied between 4.5 × 10-5 and 5.5 × 10-5 ) and only a small percentage is due to fermented sausages/salami. On the contrary, salt-cured meat products seem to pose minor risk but further investigations are needed to clarify still unclear aspects. Among all the considered variables, cooking temperature and bradyzoites' concentration in muscle impacted most the risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Condoleo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II,", Napoli, Italy
| | - Stefania Sette
- Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione, Roma, Italy
| | - Ziad Mezher
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Roma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Autier B, Dion S, Robert-Gangneux F. The liver as an organ at risk for Toxoplasma transmission during transplantation: myth or reality? J Clin Pathol 2018. [PMID: 29535213 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2018-205066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
AIM Toxoplasmosis following liver transplant with donor-recipient mismatch is rare, but is often life-threatening. However, there are no data on the frequency of cyst carriage in the liver, nor consensual chemoprophylaxis guidelines. This study aimed at describing frequency and localisation of Toxoplasma cysts in the liver in a mouse model of chronic infection to predict the risk in liver transplantation. METHODS Heart, brain and liver lobes of 21 mice chronically infected with Toxoplasma were collected for DNA extraction and amplification of Toxoplasma gondii rep529 sequence by real-time PCR. RESULTS Parasite DNA was detected in the liver of 19/21 mice (90.5%), with no preferential anatomical localisation, but with higher parasite loads in the papillary process. Parasite loads in the liver were far lower than in brain and heart. The number of infected lobes was inversely correlated to the total liver weight, but was independent of the brain parasite load and of the parasite strain. CONCLUSIONS The liver is a frequent site of cyst carriage, confirming that transplantation of an organ from a seropositive donor to seronegative recipient is at high risk for acquired toxoplasmosis. Systematic serological screening prior to transplantation and chemoprophylaxis in patients at risk are fully justified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brice Autier
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Sarah Dion
- Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Inserm U0185, Rennes, France.,Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Florence Robert-Gangneux
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France.,Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Inserm U0185, Rennes, France.,Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Belluco S, Patuzzi I, Ricci A. Bovine meat versus pork in Toxoplasma gondii transmission in Italy: A quantitative risk assessment model. Int J Food Microbiol 2018; 269:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2016] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
17
|
Study of Tissue Orientation and Parasite Load in Various Tissues and Blood in an Experimental Mouse Model of Acute Toxoplasmosis. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018. [DOI: 10.5812/archcid.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
18
|
Rostami A, Karanis P, Fallahi S. Advances in serological, imaging techniques and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Infection 2018; 46:303-315. [PMID: 29330674 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-017-1111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is worldwide distributed zoonotic infection disease with medical importance in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and congenitally infected newborns. Having basic information on the traditional and new developed methods is essential for general physicians and infectious disease specialists for choosing a suitable diagnostic approach for rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease and, consequently, timely and effective treatment. METHODS We conducted English literature searches in PubMed from 1989 to 2016 using relevant keywords and summarized the recent advances in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. RESULTS Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was most used method in past century. Recently advanced ELISA-based methods including chemiluminescence assays (CLIA), enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (ELFA), immunochromatographic test (ICT), serum IgG avidity test and immunosorbent agglutination assays (ISAGA) have shown high sensitivity and specificity. Recent studies using recombinant or chimeric antigens and multiepitope peptides method demonstrated very promising results to development of new strategies capable of discriminating recently acquired infections from chronic infection. Real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are two recently developed PCR-based methods with high sensitivity and specificity and could be useful to early diagnosis of infection. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging and ultrasonography could be useful, although their results might be not specific alone. CONCLUSION This review provides a summary of recent developed methods and also attempts to improve their sensitivity for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Serology, molecular and imaging technologies each has their own advantages and limitations which can certainly achieve definitive diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by combining these diagnostic techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Shirzad Fallahi
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. .,Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sharif M, Amouei A, Sarvi S, Mizani A, Aarabi M, Hosseini SA, Daryani A. Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from ruminants: A systematic review. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 258:38-49. [PMID: 28756372 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals. This parasite has been classified into three major lineages. Our aim was to assess and compare the identified Types and genotypes in ruminants. From November 2014 to April 2015, four English language databases and four Persian databases that reported data on the T. gondii genotyping in ruminants were searched. Overall, typing results of the 250/307 T. gondii isolates in all animals showed that Type II was a predominant Type (81.4%). In addition, genotyping data from the 82/215 T. gondii isolates or strains indicated that atypical genotypes were predominant (38.13%). This systematic review has demonstrated a large degree of genetic diversity in some countries. However, in the new nomenclature of genotyping, there are atypical or exotic genotypes, such as Chinese 1, Types Br (I, II, III and IV), and Type 12. Further genotyping studies are required to corroborate the current results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sharif
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Amouei
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Mizani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Aarabi
- Health Science Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Seyed-Abdollah Hosseini
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Quantifying the risk of human Toxoplasma gondii infection due to consumption of fresh pork in the United States. Food Control 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
21
|
Basso W, Grimm F, Ruetten M, Djokic V, Blaga R, Sidler X, Deplazes P. Experimental Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs: Humoral immune response, estimation of specific IgG avidity and the challenges of reproducing vertical transmission in sows. Vet Parasitol 2017; 236:76-85. [PMID: 28288770 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 01/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ten pregnant sows were experimentally inoculated per os with T. gondii in order to investigate vertical and galactogenic transmission of the parasite and the evolution and maturation of the specific IgG humoral response in the sows and piglets. Five seronegative sows received 104T. gondii (CZ isolate clone H3) sporulated oocysts during late-pregnancy (Exp. 1), three sows received 104 oocysts during mid-pregnancy (Exp. 2) and three sows from Exp. 1 (and two seronegative sows) were re-inoculated with 105 oocysts during a further pregnancy (late-pregnancy) (Exp. 3). Besides, six 4.5 week-old piglets inoculated per os with 5×103 oocysts were also included in the serological investigations. All animals seroconverted (PrioCHECK Toxoplasma Ab porcine ELISA, Prionics, Switzerland) by 2-3 weeks post inoculation (wpi) and remained seropositive for at least 38 weeks or until euthanasia. Four chronically infected sows from Exp. 1 and 2 were serologically monitored during a further pregnancy and no reactivation, but a decrease of the antibody levels was observed at farrowing (Exp. 4). In all experiments, the specific IgG-avidity was initially low, increased during the course of infection and after re-inoculations. An avidity index (AI) ≥40% could be used to rule out recent infections (<8 weeks) in most (15 of 16) animals. In some piglets (18.6% of 70) delivered by inoculated sows (Exp. 1 and 2), maternal antibodies were still detectable at 2 months (but not by 3 months) of age, with constant high avidity values, comparable to those of the dams at farrowing. In all experiments, the sows remained asymptomatic and delivered non-infected offspring at term. A total of 208 normal and 5 stillborn piglets delivered by the inoculated sows (Exp. 1-4) tested serologically negative before colostrum uptake. Placentas (n=88) from all sows and tissues (brain, liver, lung, heart, and masseter muscle) from 56 delivered piglets were analysed histopathologically and by real-time PCR for T. gondii with negative results. Colostrum and milk samples from all sows were negative by real-time PCR for T. gondii DNA. In addition, no seroconversion was observed in 16 piglets from seronegative dams that were transferred to infected dams one day after birth to detect a possible infection through colostrum or milk during the suckling period. Although vertical transmission of T. gondii was demonstrated in naturally infected pigs, many factors involved in the outcome of vertical transmission and congenital toxoplasmosis in pigs are still unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Felix Grimm
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maja Ruetten
- PathoVet AG, Buckstrasse 2, 8317 Tagelswangen, Switzerland
| | - Vitomir Djokic
- ANSES, Laboratoire de santé animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Radu Blaga
- Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, ANSES, INRA, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Xaver Sidler
- Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gomez-Samblas M, Vilchez S, Racero J, Fuentes M, Osuna A. Toxoplasma gondii detection and viability assays in ham legs and shoulders from experimentally infected pigs. Food Microbiol 2016; 58:112-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
23
|
Guo M, Mishra A, Buchanan RL, Dubey JP, Hill DE, Gamble HR, Pradhan AK. Quantifying the Risk of Human Toxoplasma gondii Infection Due to Consumption of Domestically Produced Lamb in the United States. J Food Prot 2016; 79:1181-7. [PMID: 27357038 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent protozoan parasite worldwide. Human toxoplasmosis is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in the United States, and meat products have been identified as an important source of T. gondii infections in humans. The goal of this study was to develop a farm-to-table quantitative microbial risk assessment model to predict the public health burden in the United States associated with consumption of U.S. domestically produced lamb. T. gondii prevalence in market lambs was pooled from the 2011 National Animal Health Monitoring System survey, and the concentration of the infectious life stage (bradyzoites) was calculated in the developed model. A log-linear regression and an exponential doseresponse model were used to model the reduction of T. gondii during home cooking and to predict the probability of infection, respectively. The mean probability of infection per serving of lamb was estimated to be 1.5 cases per 100,000 servings, corresponding to ∼6,300 new infections per year in the U.S. POPULATION Based on the sensitivity analysis, we identified cooking as the most effective method to influence human health risk. This study provided a quantitative microbial risk assessment framework for T. gondii infection through consumption of lamb and quantified the infection risk and public health burden associated with lamb consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Guo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Abhinav Mishra
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Robert L Buchanan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - Dolores E Hill
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - H Ray Gamble
- National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Abani K Pradhan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Elmore SA, Huyvaert KP, Bailey LL, Iqbal A, Su C, Dixon BR, Alisauskas RT, Gajadhar AA, Jenkins EJ. Multi-scale occupancy approach to estimate Toxoplasma gondii prevalence and detection probability in tissues: an application and guide for field sampling. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:563-70. [PMID: 27155329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Increasingly, birds are recognised as important hosts for the ubiquitous parasite Toxoplasma gondii, although little experimental evidence exists to determine which tissues should be tested to maximise the detection probability of T. gondii. Also, Arctic-nesting geese are suspected to be important sources of T. gondii in terrestrial Arctic ecosystems, but the parasite has not previously been reported in the tissues of these geese. Using a domestic goose model, we applied a multi-scale occupancy framework to demonstrate that the probability of detection of T. gondii was highest in the brain (0.689, 95% confidence interval=0.486, 0.839) and the heart (0.809, 95% confidence interval=0.693, 0.888). Inoculated geese had an estimated T. gondii infection probability of 0.849, (95% confidence interval=0.643, 0.946), highlighting uncertainty in the system, even under experimental conditions. Guided by these results, we tested the brains and hearts of wild Ross's Geese (Chen rossii, n=50) and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens, n=50) from Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada. We detected 51 suspected positive tissue samples from 33 wild geese using real-time PCR with melt-curve analysis. The wild goose prevalence estimates generated by our multi-scale occupancy analysis were higher than the naïve estimates of prevalence, indicating that multiple PCR repetitions on the same organs and testing more than one organ could improve T. gondii detection. Genetic characterisation revealed Type III T. gondii alleles in six wild geese and Sarcocystis spp. in 25 samples. Our study demonstrates that Arctic nesting geese are capable of harbouring T. gondii in their tissues and could transport the parasite from their southern overwintering grounds into the Arctic region. We demonstrate how a multi-scale occupancy framework can be used in a domestic animal model to guide resource-limited sample collection and tissue analysis in wildlife. Secondly, we confirm the value of traditional occupancy in optimising T. gondii detection probability in tissue samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stacey A Elmore
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada; Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Kathryn P Huyvaert
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Larissa L Bailey
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1474 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Asma Iqbal
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, M409 Walters Life Sciences, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Brent R Dixon
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Ray T Alisauskas
- Prairie and Northern Research Centre, Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Alvin A Gajadhar
- Centre for Food-Borne and Animal Parasitology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 116 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2R3, Canada
| | - Emily J Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Guo M, Buchanan RL, Dubey JP, Hill DE, Lambertini E, Ying Y, Gamble HR, Jones JL, Pradhan AK. Qualitative Assessment for Toxoplasma gondii Exposure Risk Associated with Meat Products in the United States. J Food Prot 2015; 78:2207-19. [PMID: 26613916 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a global protozoan parasite capable of infecting most warm-blooded animals. Although healthy adult humans generally have no symptoms, severe illness does occur in certain groups, including congenitally infected fetuses and newborns, immunocompromised individuals including transplant patients. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consumption of raw or undercooked meat products is one of the major sources of infection with T. gondii. The goal of this study was to develop a framework to qualitatively estimate the exposure risk to T. gondii from various meat products consumed in the United States. Risk estimates of various meats were analyzed by a farm-to-retail qualitative assessment that included evaluation of farm, abattoir, storage and transportation, meat processing, packaging, and retail modules. It was found that exposure risks associated with meats from free-range chickens, nonconfinement-raised pigs, goats, and lamb are higher than those from confinement-raised pigs, cattle, and caged chickens. For fresh meat products, risk at the retail level was similar to that at the farm level unless meats had been frozen or moisture enhanced. Our results showed that meat processing, such as salting, freezing, commercial hot air drying, long fermentation times, hot smoking, and cooking, are able to reduce T. gondii levels in meat products. whereas nitrite and/or nitrate, spice, low pH, and cold storage have no effect on the viability of T. gondii tissue cysts. Raw-fermented sausage, cured raw meat, meat that is not hot-air dried, and fresh processed meat were associated with higher exposure risks compared with cooked meat and frozen meat. This study provides a reference for meat management control programs to determine critical control points and serves as the foundation for future quantitative risk assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Guo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Robert L Buchanan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - Dolores E Hill
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Yuqing Ying
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - H Ray Gamble
- National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 20001, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Jones
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
| | - Abani K Pradhan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA; Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Koethe M, Straubinger RK, Pott S, Bangoura B, Geuthner AC, Daugschies A, Ludewig M. Quantitative detection of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of experimentally infected turkeys and in retail turkey products by magnetic-capture PCR. Food Microbiol 2015; 52:11-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
28
|
Paştiu AI, Györke A, Kalmár Z, Bolfă P, Rosenthal BM, Oltean M, Villena I, Spînu M, Cozma V. Toxoplasma gondii in horse meat intended for human consumption in Romania. Vet Parasitol 2015; 212:393-5. [PMID: 26238654 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, an economically important zoonotic protozoan, was investigated in horses slaughtered for export and human consumption in the North of Romania. Pairs of samples, sera and heart tissues, were collected from 82 slaughtered horses. Examination of horse sera by ELISA at a dilution of 1:10, and by modified agglutination test (MAT) at a dilution of 1:6, revealed that 32 (39%) and 31(37.8%) horses, respectively, had antibodies against T. gondii. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, T. gondii DNA was not found in any heart sample collected from horses. By bioassay in mice, we obtained viable isolates of T. gondii from two of ten horses determined to be strongly positive by serological assay/ELISA. The prevalence estimated in horses highlighted the potential risk for human contamination by consumption of raw or undercooked meat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Ioana Paştiu
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adriana Györke
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Pompei Bolfă
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Benjamin Martin Rosenthal
- Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
| | - Miruna Oltean
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Isabelle Villena
- Laboratory of Parasitology, EA 3800, SFR CAP SANTE, University Reims Champagne Ardenne, National Reference Center on Toxoplasmosis, Reims, France
| | - Marina Spînu
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vasile Cozma
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Juránková J, Basso W, Neumayerová H, Frencová A, Baláž V, Deplazes P, Koudela B. Predilection sites for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep tissues revealed by magnetic capture and real-time PCR detection. Food Microbiol 2015; 52:150-3. [PMID: 26338129 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Undercooked lamb and mutton are common sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection for humans. A sequence specific magnetic capture technique in combination with quantitative real-time PCR targeting the 529 bp repeat element of T. gondii was used for estimation of the parasite burdens in various sheep tissues (n = 6) three months after peroral experimental inoculation with 10,000 T. gondii oocysts. Brain was the most frequently affected organ (positive in all 6 sheep) and showed the highest estimated parasite loads (0.5-30,913 parasites/g tissue). Lung samples were positive in three sheep, with load estimates of 36.3 to <1 parasite/g tissue. Heart tissue was positive in three sheep and kidney only in one animal with low parasite loads (<1 parasite/g tissue). Only few skeletal muscle samples in 2 animals showed positive results, with very low parasite burdens, while samples from further internal organs (i.e. liver and spleen) were negative in all animals. This study identified the brain as the most important predilection site and therefore the most appropriate tissue for T. gondii detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Juránková
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helena Neumayerová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anita Frencová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Baláž
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Břetislav Koudela
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Liu Q, Wang ZD, Huang SY, Zhu XQ. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and typing of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:292. [PMID: 26017718 PMCID: PMC4451882 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonosis with medical and veterinary importance worldwide. The disease is mainly contracted by ingesting undercooked or raw meat containing viable tissue cysts, or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts. The diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection is crucial for the surveillance, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Traditional approaches for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis include etiological, immunological and imaging techniques. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis has been improved by the emergence of molecular technologies to amplify parasite nucleic acids. Among these, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular techniques have been useful for the genetic characterization of T. gondii. Serotyping methods based on polymorphic polypeptides have the potential to become the choice for typing T. gondii in humans and animals. In this review, we summarize conventional non-DNA-based diagnostic methods, and the DNA-based molecular techniques for the diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii. These techniques have provided foundations for further development of more effective and accurate detection of T. gondii infection. These advances will contribute to an improved understanding of the epidemiology, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ze-Dong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Si-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hehl AB, Basso WU, Lippuner C, Ramakrishnan C, Okoniewski M, Walker RA, Grigg ME, Smith NC, Deplazes P. Asexual expansion of Toxoplasma gondii merozoites is distinct from tachyzoites and entails expression of non-overlapping gene families to attach, invade, and replicate within feline enterocytes. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:66. [PMID: 25757795 PMCID: PMC4340605 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is cosmopolitan in nature, largely as a result of its highly flexible life cycle. Felids are its only definitive hosts and a wide range of mammals and birds serve as intermediate hosts. The latent bradyzoite stage is orally infectious in all warm-blooded vertebrates and establishes chronic, transmissible infections. When bradyzoites are ingested by felids, they transform into merozoites in enterocytes and expand asexually as part of their coccidian life cycle. In all other intermediate hosts, however, bradyzoites differentiate exclusively to tachyzoites, and disseminate extraintestinally to many cell types. Both merozoites and tachyzoites undergo rapid asexual population expansion, yet possess different effector fates with respect to the cells and tissues they develop in and the subsequent stages they differentiate into. Results To determine whether merozoites utilize distinct suites of genes to attach, invade, and replicate within feline enterocytes, we performed comparative transcriptional profiling on purified tachyzoites and merozoites. We used high-throughput RNA-Seq to compare the merozoite and tachyzoite transcriptomes. 8323 genes were annotated with sequence reads across the two asexually replicating stages of the parasite life cycle. Metabolism was similar between the two replicating stages. However, significant stage-specific expression differences were measured, with 312 transcripts exclusive to merozoites versus 453 exclusive to tachyzoites. Genes coding for 177 predicted secreted proteins and 64 membrane- associated proteins were annotated as merozoite-specific. The vast majority of known dense-granule (GRA), microneme (MIC), and rhoptry (ROP) genes were not expressed in merozoites. In contrast, a large set of surface proteins (SRS) was expressed exclusively in merozoites. Conclusions The distinct expression profiles of merozoites and tachyzoites reveal significant additional complexity within the T. gondii life cycle, demonstrating that merozoites are distinct asexual dividing stages which are uniquely adapted to their niche and biological purpose. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1225-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian B Hehl
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Walter U Basso
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Christoph Lippuner
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland. .,Current address: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, Bern, 3010, Switzerland.
| | - Chandra Ramakrishnan
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Michal Okoniewski
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Robert A Walker
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland. .,Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, McGregor Road, Smithfield, QLD, 4878, Australia.
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
| | - Nicholas C Smith
- Queensland Tropical Health Alliance Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, McGregor Road, Smithfield, QLD, 4878, Australia.
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology-University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Paştiu AI, Ajzenberg D, Györke A, Şuteu O, Balea A, Rosenthal BM, Kalmár Z, Domşa C, Cozma V. Traditional goat husbandry may substantially contribute to human toxoplasmosis exposure. J Parasitol 2014; 101:45-9. [PMID: 25003793 DOI: 10.1645/13-483.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Raising goats in settings that are highly contaminated with oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii may contribute significantly to human exposure to this zoonotic parasite. Increasing consumption of young goats in countries where goats are frequently reared in backyards that are also homes to cats (the definitive host of this parasite) elevates such concern. To date, there has been little attention to either the prevalence or genotypic characteristics of T. gondii isolates in young ruminant food animals in Europe. Here, we estimated the prevalence of T. gondii goat-kids raised in backyards and slaughtered for human consumption during Easter. We collected 181 paired samples of serum and diaphragm. Serum samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies against T. gondii , and muscle tissues were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to detect T. gondii DNA. Thirty-two diaphragm samples were also bioassayed in mice, and the isolates were genotyped using microsatellite markers. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in goat-kids was 33.1% (60/181; 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.3-40.5%), and T. gondii DNA was found in 6.1% (11/181; 95% CI 3.1-10.6) of the diaphragm samples. We isolated the parasite from 2 of 32 goat-kids, and the T. gondii strains belonged to genotype II. The results showed that 1/3 of 3-mo-old goats may be infected with T. gondii, and their consumption during Easter (as barbecue) may seriously compromise food safety as a result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria I Paştiu
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Department, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, cod 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Survival of experimentally induced Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts in vacuum packed goat meat and dry fermented goat meat sausages. Food Microbiol 2014; 39:47-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
34
|
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits from different farming systems. Vet Parasitol 2014; 204:184-90. [PMID: 24877785 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The breeding of domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) for human consumption has a long tradition mainly in European and Asian countries. Infections that can affect the production of meat or even be transmitted from animals to humans are important to monitor, especially for public health reasons as well as for their impact on animals health. This study aimed to collect sera from rabbits bred in different conditions and test the presence of Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon cuniculi antibodies. Whether infections were active or latent was assessed by determining the occurrence of IgM or IgM together with IgG antibodies which indicated active infection whereas latent infection was characterized by finding IgG antibodies only. An ELISA test was performed with 1883 sera samples collected throughout the Czech and Slovak Republics. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in 902 samples from 6 commercial farms (CF) was very low with only 4 rabbits (0.4%) being positive. In total 99 (10.1%) individuals out of 981 samples from 29 household farms (HF) were positive for T. gondii antibodies. Only 2 (50%) of the T. gondii positive CF rabbits had active infections while the rest were latently infected. The serological results showed that 35 (35.4%) rabbits from the T. gondii positive HF group suffered from active infection. Out of CF samples 185 (20.5%) were positive for E. cuniculi. Antibodies of E. cuniculi were detected in 497 (50.7%) HF rabbits. Active E. cuniculi infections were determined in 85.9% of CF and 56.3% of HF rabbits; respectively. Interestingly, the E. cuniculi positive rabbits were significantly more often positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies in comparison to E. cuniculi negative individuals. Prevalence of T. gondii in CF rabbits was negligible. According to our results meat of HF rabbits still poses a risk of T. gondii infection. Nevertheless, the risk is on its lowest level in 20 years which is apparently caused due to changes in feeding practices. The occurrence of E. cuniculi antibodies was significantly lower in rabbits from commercial farms, apparently because of better hygiene conditions.
Collapse
|
35
|
Juránková J, Basso W, Neumayerová H, Baláž V, Jánová E, Sidler X, Deplazes P, Koudela B. Brain is the predilection site of Toxoplasma gondii in experimentally inoculated pigs as revealed by magnetic capture and real-time PCR. Food Microbiol 2014; 38:167-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2013.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
36
|
Juránková J, Hůrková-Hofmannová L, Volf J, Baláž V, Piálek J. Efficacy of magnetic capture in comparison with conventional DNA isolation in a survey of Toxoplasma gondii in wild house mice. Eur J Protistol 2013; 50:11-5. [PMID: 24280460 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2013.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite with a world-wide distribution. House mice (Mus musculus) play an important role as a reservoir host in the parasite life cycle. However, their detection in mouse brain is limited because the host potentially harbours only a few tissue cysts. In order to improve the diagnosis, we tested a novel protocol for T. gondii detection in mice and compared this technique to a standard PCR-based protocol using a commercial kit for DNA isolation. Efficacy of magnetic capture for isolation of T. gondii DNA from whole host brains was tested in brain samples of laboratory mice spiked with 1 up to 10(4) tachyzoites. Real-time PCR revealed that even 1-5 tachyzoites can be detected after magnetic capture. Also this method is suitable to quantify parasite numbers in mouse brains with more than 10 tachyzoite equivalents. To assess the two techniques in wild mice, we employed a dataset consisting of 243 individuals. The prevalence of T. gondii detected by magnetic capture and qPCR and by commercial isolation and PCR was 1.2% and 0%, respectively. The magnetic capture and quantitative PCR seems to be a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method for both laboratory research and wild population surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Juránková
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lada Hůrková-Hofmannová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Volf
- Department of Bacteriology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Baláž
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Piálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno and Studenec, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Technical specifications on harmonised epidemiological indicators for biological hazards to be covered by meat inspection of domestic sheep and goats. EFSA J 2013. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
|
38
|
Zhao ZJ, Zhang J, Wei J, Li Z, Wang T, Yi SQ, Shen JL, Yang TB, Hide G, Lun ZR. Lower expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and higher expression of arginase in rat alveolar macrophages are linked to their susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii infection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63650. [PMID: 23691079 PMCID: PMC3655142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats are naturally resistant to Toxoplasma gondii infection, particularly the RH strain, while mice are not. Previous studies have demonstrated that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 of rodent peritoneal macrophages are linked to the mechanism of resistance. As an increasing number of studies on human and animal infections are showing that pulmonary toxoplasmosis is one of the most severe clinical signs from T. gondii infection, we are interested to know whether T. gondii infection in alveolar macrophages of rats is also linked to the levels of iNOS and arginase-1 activity. Our results demonstrate that T. gondii could grow and proliferate in rat alveolar macrophages, both in vitro and in vivo, at levels higher than resistant rat peritoneal macrophages and at comparable levels to sensitive mouse peritoneal macrophages. Lower activity and expression levels of iNOS and higher activity and expression levels of arginase-1 in rat alveolar macrophages were found to be linked to the susceptibility of T. gondii infection in these cells. These novel findings could aid a better understanding of the pathogenesis of clinical pulmonary toxoplasmosis in humans and domestic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, PR China
| | - Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jun Wei
- General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, PR China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Si-Qi Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ji-Long Shen
- Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Anhui, Department of Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Ting-Bao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Geoff Hide
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhao-Rong Lun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease and Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Glor SB, Edelhofer R, Grimm F, Deplazes P, Basso W. Evaluation of a commercial ELISA kit for detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in serum, plasma and meat juice from experimentally and naturally infected sheep. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:85. [PMID: 23561035 PMCID: PMC3631134 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common food borne zoonoses worldwide, and can be a serious life-threatening disease in the congenitally infected fetus and in immunosupressed patients. Among food animals, sheep along with goats and pigs possess the highest incidence of T. gondii cysts in meat, and play a major role as a source of human infection. Methods In this study, a new commercial ELISA kit (PrioCHECK® Toxoplasma Ab SR, Prionics Schlieren-Zurich, Switzerland) for the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in serum, plasma and meat juice of sheep, was evaluated by comparing it with the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), indirect haemagglutination test (IHA) and real-time PCR, on samples from experimentally inoculated and naturally exposed sheep. Results The commercial ELISA detected the infection status in 50% and 100% of sheep orally inoculated with 10,000 T. gondii oocysts (n = 6), from two or three weeks post infection (wpi), respectively, both on serum and plasma samples. Meat juice from all experimentally inoculated sheep collected at slaughter (12 wpi) showed positive ELISA values. In naturally exposed sheep (n = 396), the ELISA showed a very good agreement with IFAT (kappa = 0.91-1.0) and IHA (kappa = 0.96-1.0) performed on serum; and a positive correlation was observed between ELISA values and IFAT titers. By a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the commercial ELISA had relative sensitivities between 93.33% and 100%, and relative specificities between 96.87% and 100% respect to IFAT and IHA, depending on the considered cut-off value and animal groups tested. Furthermore, the ELISA correctly recognized all animals reacting positive in real-time PCR. The ELISA results on meat juice agreed with those on serum samples in all experimentally inoculated animals, and in 94 out of 96 (97.9%) naturally exposed sheep, when meat juice was tested at a 1:10 dilution. Conclusion The commercial ELISA kit evaluated in this study could represent a valuable tool to improve the surveillance and reporting system for T. gondii in sheep populations at the farm level or for diagnosis at the slaughterhouse, contributing to the control of this widespread zoonosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine B Glor
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|