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Dini FM, Jacinto JGP, Cavallini D, Beltrame A, Del Re FS, Abram L, Gentile A, Galuppi R. Observational longitudinal study on Toxoplasma gondii infection in fattening beef cattle: serology and associated haematological findings. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:169. [PMID: 38520500 PMCID: PMC10960757 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08189-y] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is a globally distributed zoonotic infection with significant implications for human and animal health. This study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii infection in a population of beef cattle at three different stages of their productive lifespan and examined the impact of T. gondii serological status on blood parameters. A commercial beef fattening unit in Italy was the setting for this research, which involved a biosecurity assessment upon cattle arrival, blood sampling at three time points and Toxoplasma-specific serological testing using indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT). Results revealed a dynamic pattern of T. gondii seropositivity in cattle, with an initial prevalence of 30.6% at arrival (T0) that increased to 44.6% at 14 days (T1) and then decreased slightly to 39.3% at slaughter after 5 months (T2). Interestingly, seroconversion was observed during the study, indicating ongoing infections, and antibody waning occurred in some animals. In terms of blood parameters, seropositive cattle exhibited significantly lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, suggesting an activation of the innate immune response. Furthermore, cattle with higher antibody titres displayed higher neutrophil counts. However, all blood parameters with a statistical significance were within the reference range. This study provides for the first time a longitudinal investigation on the serological status for T. gondii in naturally exposed beef cattle. These findings provide valuable insights into the clinico-pathological aspects of natural T. gondii exposure in cattle and underscore the importance of monitoring and managing T. gondii infection in livestock production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo M Dini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
| | - Joana G P Jacinto
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Damiano Cavallini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | | | - Flavia S Del Re
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Laura Abram
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Gentile
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Roberta Galuppi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
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Rubiola S, Moré G, Civera T, Hemphill A, Frey CF, Basso W, Colasanto I, Vercellino D, Fidelio M, Lovisone M, Chiesa F. Detection of Sarcocystis hominis, Sarcocystis bovifelis, Sarcocystis cruzi, Sarcocystis hirsuta and Sarcocystis sigmoideus sp. nov. in carcasses affected by bovine eosinophilic myositis. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2024; 34:e00220. [PMID: 38313347 PMCID: PMC10834464 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine eosinophilic myositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by multiple focal or diffuse grey to green patches leading to condemnation of affected carcasses. Although its etiology is still uncertain, there is evidence that Sarcocystis species may play a role in the development of eosinophilic myositis. The goal of the present study was to identify Sarcocystis spp. in intralesional and extralesional tissues of condemned cattle carcasses, in order to evaluate the possible role of different bovine Sarcocystis spp. in the etiology of bovine eosinophilic myositis. Muscle samples (n = 100) of 26 affected carcasses were collected in Northern Italy. One to five samples with lesions and two aliquots of tissue without lesions were collected from each carcass; lesions were grossly categorized in green focal lesions and green diffuse patches. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed by multiplex-PCR targeting different Sarcocystis spp. Unidentified species were characterized morphologically (light microscopy, histology), ultrastructurally (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) and on the molecular level (complete 18S rRNA gene and partial cox1 gene sequencing). A bovine eosinophilic myositis prevalence of 0.017% was visually assessed by routine carcass inspection between 2014 and 2019 in Italy (184/1,108,150 slaughtered cattle). Out of 26 carcasses, 25 revealed the presence of at least one Sarcocystis species (96.2%). The presence of Sarcocystis spp. DNA was significantly more frequent in intralesional than in extralesional samples. Considering the different species, Sarcocystis bovifelis and Sarcocystis hominis were significantly more frequent in intralesional (41.7% and 50%, respectively) than in extralesional samples (1.9% and 15.4%, respectively), while there was no significant difference between the presence of Sarcocystis cruzi and Sarcocystis hirsuta in intralesional (27.1% and 2.1%, respectively) and extralesional (30.8% and 1.9%, respectively) samples. The presence of an unnamed Sarcocystis sp. showing thick-walled (3.7-5.4 μm) cysts with densely packed, flattened, undulating and narrow protrusions, which showed an S-shape in side view, was recorded in the diaphragm of two carcasses. Genomic DNA from individual sarcocysts isolated from the diaphragm was successfully amplified and further sequenced. Sequence comparison revealed <94.6% and 83.4% identity at 18S rRNA and cox1 genes, respectively, with other named Sarcocystis spp., while the phylogenetic analysis clearly separated the unnamed Sarcocystis sp. from the other Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. The present study contributes to the understanding of the importance of different Sarcocystis spp. in the pathogenesis of bovine eosinophilic myositis. The results emphasize the association of Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis bovifelis with bovine eosinophilic myositis and highlight the presence of a new Sarcocystis sp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. The name Sarcocystis sigmoideus sp. nov. is proposed for the newly described Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Rubiola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Gastón Moré
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tiziana Civera
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline F Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Walter Basso
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irene Colasanto
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Davide Vercellino
- ASL TO3 di Collegno e Pinerolo, SC Igiene degli Allevamenti e delle Produzioni Zootecniche, 10093 Collegno, TO, Italy
| | - Marta Fidelio
- ASL di Asti, Servizio Veterinario Area B, 14100 Asti, AT, Italy
| | - Mauro Lovisone
- ASL di Asti, Servizio Veterinario Area B, 14100 Asti, AT, Italy
| | - Francesco Chiesa
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
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Oduori DO, Kitala PM, Wachira TM, Mulinge E, Zeyhle E, Gabriël S, Gathura PB. Sympatric occurrence of Taenia saginata and Sarcocystis spp. in cattle from Narok County, Kenya: meat inspection findings with molecular validation. J Helminthol 2024; 98:e20. [PMID: 38380478 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x24000129] [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] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The epidemiological picture of Taenia saginata infections in Kenya is fragmented with limited available data. Although Sarcocystis species are significant meat-borne parasites, few studies have explored their occurrence in Kenya. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of bovine cysticercosis and screen for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. A meat inspection-based survey was conducted in ten abattoirs in Narok County, Kenya, and inspection for T. saginata cysticerci was limited to the Triceps brachii muscle. The apparent occurrence of the parasite was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8, 7.6, n=573). Molecular confirmation of T. saginata was done via nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and restricted fragment length polymorphism. Sarcocystis species were identified using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction method targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Of the 31 cystic lesions tested, 26/31 (83.9%) were confirmed to be T. saginata.Sarcocystis cruzi and S. hominis were detected in 8/31 (25.8%) and 1/31 (3.2%) of the cystic lesions, respectively. Co-infections of S. cruzi and T. saginata were found in 6/31 lesions (19.4%). The confirmation of bovine cysticercosis and S. hominis is suggestive of the presence of risky culinary and sanitation practices that facilitate transmission. This is the first report and molecular confirmation of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle in the country. The presence of both zoonotic S. hominis and pathogenic S. cruzi highlights an underexplored concern of veterinary and human health significance, warranting further epidemiological investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D O Oduori
- Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kangemi, Kenya
- Department of Animal Health and Production, Maasai Mara University, Narok, Kenya
| | - P M Kitala
- Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kangemi, Kenya
| | - T M Wachira
- Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kangemi, Kenya
| | - E Mulinge
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - E Zeyhle
- Meru University of Science and Technology, Meru, Kenya
| | - S Gabriël
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - P B Gathura
- Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kangemi, Kenya
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