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Chen C, Qin SY, Yang X, Li XM, Cai Y, Lei CC, Zhao Q, Elsheikha HM, Cao H. Global prevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Vet Med 2024; 226:106187. [PMID: 38554654 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to identify the global prevalence and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds. Six bibliographic databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal Database, Wanfang Data, PubMed, Web of science and ScienceDirect) were searched from inception to February 2023. The search yielded 1220 records of which 659 articles underwent full-text evaluation, which identified 49 eligible articles and 16,030 wild bird samples that were included in the meta-analysis. The estimated pooled global prevalence of T. gondii infection in wild birds was 16.6%. Out of the variables tested, publication year after 2020 and climate type were significantly associated with T. gondii infection (P<0.01). Our data indicate that the prevalence of T. gondii in wild birds can be influenced by epidemiological variables. Further research is needed to identify the biological, environmental, anthropogenic, and geographical risk factors which impact the ecology and prevalence of T. gondii in wild birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224002, PR China
| | - Si-Yuan Qin
- Center of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning 110034, PR China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, PR China
| | - Xiao-Man Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China
| | - Yanan Cai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, PR China
| | - Cong-Cong Lei
- Center of Prevention and Control Biological Disaster, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, Liaoning 110034, PR China
| | - Quan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130118, PR China.
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
| | - Hongwei Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224002, PR China.
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Gryczyńska A, Polaczyk J, Welc-Falęciak R. Toxoplasma gondii infection in ticks infesting migratory birds: the blackbird (Turdus merula) and the song thrush (Turdus philomelos). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:233-240. [PMID: 38321308 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00878-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is the zoonosis widespread all over the world. Birds constitute an important group of T. gondii intermediate hosts often attacked by definitive hosts, e.g. domestic cats. Due to confirmation of an additional way of T. gondii transmission via tick bite, the aim of our study was to state and evaluate the infection prevalence of ticks feeding on blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos). The real-time PCR amplification of the B1 gene fragment was used for detection of T. gondii infection in 157 Ixodes ricinus ticks removed from captured birds. The results showed the thrushes as hosts intensively attacked by ticks (prevalence 88.5% and 70% for blackbirds and song thrushes, respectively), and T. gondii infected individuals were detected. Among all ticks infected, 7 (5.8%; n = 120) were collected from blackbirds, and 2 (5.4%; n = 37) from song thrushes. The thrushes small body sizes and their tendency to urban ecosystems colonization, suggest that they relatively often become a pray of domestic cats, and combined with our findings, are potentially involved in maintenance the T. gondii population, especially in anthropogenic habitats, where the presence of toxoplasmosis is likely to constitute a serious danger to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Gryczyńska
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 101 Żwirki i Wigury St, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Justyna Polaczyk
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa St, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Renata Welc-Falęciak
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa St, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
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Yang L, Ren H, Zhu N, Mao G, Li J, Su C, Jiang Y, Yang Y. Epidemiology and isolation of viable Toxoplasma gondii strain from macropods. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13960. [PMID: 36938389 PMCID: PMC10015192 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13960] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Wallabies and other marsupials are highly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, 26 macropod samples were collected (8 red kangaroos, 4 Parma wallabies, 8 red-necked wallabies, 5 albino red-necked wallabies and 1 Eastern grey kangaroo), including tissue (n = 9) and serum (n = 17) samples. According to the modified agglutination test (MAT) results (cutoff 1:25), 50% (95% Cl: 32.06-67.94%) of the macropods had T. gondii antibodies. Among them, species, survival state, and sampling date were risk factors for T. gondii susceptibility (P < 0.05). T. gondii DNA was detected in two (cases #14 and #15) of the nine cases obtained from macropod tissues. One viable T. gondii strain (TgRooCHn4) was isolated from an albino red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus, case #14) via bioassay in mice. TgRooCHn4 belongs to ToxoDB genotype #3, using the 10 multilocus PCR-RFLP markers. The ROP18 and ROP5 gene allele types of TgRooCHn4 were 2/2, which was predicted to be non-lethal to mice. The virulence of TgRooCHn4 tachyzoites was avirulent in mice. Most macropods sampled from Hernan province in 2021 and 2022 were positive with T. gondii infection. A flood occurred in July 2021 in Zhengzhou from Henan province may promote the transmission of T. gondii oocysts. To our knowledge, this is the first T. gondii strain isolated from albino red-necked wallaby. However, further investigation is required to enhance our understanding of the transmission and prevention of toxoplasmosis in sensitive zoo animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liulu Yang
- Veterinary Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Hongjie Ren
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Niuping Zhu
- Veterinary Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Gaohui Mao
- Veterinary Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | | | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
| | - Yibao Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yurong Yang
- Veterinary Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, PR China
- Corresponding author.
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Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from birds in the world: A systematic review. Exp Parasitol 2023; 248:108480. [PMID: 36863682 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108480] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that infects a large number of vertebrate species and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Birds as intermediate hosts are very important in the life cycle of T. gondii and they can be a main source of infection for humans and felids, as well as other animals. Most species of birds feed from the ground and are the best indicator for soil contamination with T. gondii oocysts. Hence, T. gondii strains isolated from birds can represent different genotypes circulating in the environment and their main predators and consumers. The recent systematic review tries to represent the population structure of T. gondii in birds around the world. Six English language databases were searched from 1990 to 2020 to find the related studies and overall, 1275 isolates of T. gondii were separated from the analyzed samples in birds. The results of our study revealed that atypical genotypes were predominant (58.8%, 750 out of 1275). Types II, III, and I had less frequency with prevalence rates of 23.4%, 13.8%, and 2%, respectively. No isolates of Type I were reported from Africa. Summarizing ToxoDB genotypes circulating in birds around the world manifested that ToxoDB #2 was the most common (101/875), followed by ToxoDB #1 (80/875), and #3 (63/875). Totally, the results of our review represented the high genetic diversity of T. gondii with circulating non-clonal strains in birds from South and North America, while clonal parasites with low genetic diversity were predominant in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Disseminated Toxoplasma gondii Infection in an Adult Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus). Vet Sci 2021; 9:vetsci9010005. [PMID: 35051089 PMCID: PMC8780292 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9010005] [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: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An adult female osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was found weak and unable to fly in Auburn, Alabama in August 2019. The bird was captured and submitted to the Southeastern Raptor Center of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation. On presentation, the bird was thin with a body condition score of approximately 1.5 out of 5. The bird died during the examination and was submitted for necropsy. At the necropsy, there was a severe loss of muscle mass over the body, and the keel was prominent. The liver and spleen were moderately enlarged with pale tan to red foci randomly scattered throughout the parenchyma. A histopathologic observation revealed multifocal to coalescing areas of necrosis and hemorrhage with intralesional protozoans in the liver, spleen, lungs, kidney, sciatic nerve, esophagus, cerebrum, heart, and proventriculus. Immunohistochemistry using anti-Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies showed a strong positive labeling of the parasite. Semi-nested PCR, specific for the B1 gene of T. gondii, successfully identified T. gondii. This is the first confirmed case of T. gondii infection in an osprey.
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Keenan AV, Oster S, McMullen RJ, Shaw GC, Dubielzig RR, Teixeira LBC, Bellah JR, Moore PA, Boveland SD. Clinical and pathologic evaluation of chorioretinal lesions in wild owl species. Vet Ophthalmol 2021; 25:128-139. [PMID: 34590771 DOI: 10.1111/vop.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate histopathology and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of wild owls with chorioretinitis and identify any potential correlation with an infectious etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ophthalmic examination and retinal OCT imaging were performed on fifteen great horned (Strix varia) and barred (Bubo virginianus) owls (30 eyes) with chorioretinitis and five owls with normal eyes (10 eyes). Testing to investigate the presence of potential infectious diseases included a complete blood count, biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, West Nile virus (WNV) plaque reduction neutralization test, Toxoplasma gondii modified direct agglutination test, WNV RT-PCR, and Avian Influenza RT-PCR. A necropsy was performed on all owls, including ocular histopathology. RESULTS Fundus lesions included retinal detachment (7/15 owls), depigmented lesions (12/15), pigment clumping (8/15), and retinal tear (4/15). All birds were negative for WNV and Avian Influenza on RT-PCR. Of the owls with chorioretinitis, 3/15 were seropositive for WNV and 7/15 for T. gondii. Optical coherence tomography of 25/30 affected eyes revealed outer retinal lesions (19/25 eyes), retinal detachment (16/25), and retinal tears (3/25). Histopathological examination revealed outer nuclear layer atrophy (19/30 eyes), retinal detachment (18/30), retinal tears (7/30), suprachoroidal hemorrhage (12/30), scleral rupture (3/30), and ossicle fracture (3/30). CONCLUSIONS Although 20% of birds were seropositive for WNV and 46.6% for T. gondii, histopathologic findings supported that the posterior segment lesions in the study group were likely due to blunt ocular trauma rather than an infectious etiology. The results of OCT imaging and histopathology documented retinal changes most consistent with blunt ocular trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra V Keenan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Seth Oster
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Richard J McMullen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Gillian C Shaw
- Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Richard R Dubielzig
- Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Leandro B C Teixeira
- Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jamie R Bellah
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Phillip A Moore
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Shannon D Boveland
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
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Ammar S, Wood L, Su C, Spriggs M, Brown J, Van Why K, Gerhold R. Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in carnivorous wild birds in the eastern United States. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 15:153-157. [PMID: 34040962 PMCID: PMC8141412 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic protozoan parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals including mammals and birds. Raptors can be intermediate hosts for T. gondii and the infection may be dependent on their feeding habits. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii in ten raptor species from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee followed by a parasite bioassay on select seropositive samples. From a total of 155 raptors, we detected T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test (cutoff 1:25) in 32 (20.6%) birds. The T. gondii seroprevalence was 44.8% in Falconiformes (13/29), 75% in Strigiformes (15/20), and 3.8% in Ciconiiformes (4/106). All Ciconiiformes samples (hearts and sera) were collected from Pennsylvania during nuisance wildlife removal projects and all birds were apparently healthy. Falconiform and Strigiform samples were collected from an exotics clinic in Tennessee and a rehabilitation center in Florida. All sampled birds were dead or euthanatized due to failure of rehabilitation or treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between Tennessee and Florida in the tested raptors. There was also no statistically significant difference in T. gondii exposure between males and females or adults and subadults. Mice bioassay attempts using fresh brain and/or heart tissue were performed on four seropositive birds. We isolated viable T. gondii tachyzoites from one red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) and genotyped the isolate using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of ten genetic markers. The isolated strain was designated as TgHawkFL1, which is ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #28. Further research is needed to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii in raptors in the United States to obtain a better understanding of the life cycle, wildlife population impacts, and transmission dynamics of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sawsan Ammar
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat City University, Sadat City, Menofia, 32511, Egypt
| | - Liberty Wood
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, 307 Ken and Blaire Mossman Bldg., 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Maria Spriggs
- SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Busch Gardens, 3605 E. Bougainvillea Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Justin Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, 110 Research Unit A. University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Kyle Van Why
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Harrisburg, PA, 17106, USA
| | - Richard Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
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Sato AP, Goulart MDA, Konell AL, de Oliveira Koch M, da Fonseca FM, Morel AP, Locatelli-Dittrich R. Serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis neurona in raptors and risk factor analysis. Parasitol Int 2021; 82:102312. [PMID: 33636361 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Raptors are carnivorous birds with great hunting ability. Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp. are intracellular Apicomplexan protozoans which infect a wide range of intermediate hosts, including birds. The aims of this study were to evaluate the serological reactivity of captive raptors serum to T. gondii, N. caninum and S. neurona antigens and identify possible risk factors associated with the infection. From August 2014 to September 2015, blood samples from 72 raptors were collected and serum samples were tested by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Antigen slides were prepared using tachyzoites of T. gondii and N. caninum and using merozoites of S. neurona. Serum samples were tested at the following cut-off dilutions: 1:16 for T. gondii and 1:50 for N. caninum and S. neurona. An anti-chicken IgY antibody conjugated with FITC was used as a secondary antibody at 1:50 dilution. Out of the 72 raptors serum tested by IFAT, 2.7% reacted to N. caninum, 8.3% to T. gondii and 11.1% to S. neurona antigens. The region in which the sample was collected, the reason the raptors were kept in captivity and diet were statistically associated with seropositivity to T. gondii and the use of the birds and diet were statistically associated with seropositivity to N. caninum and S. neurona (p ≤ 0.05). We highlight the occurrence of these protozoans in birds of prey and the importance of good hygiene and feeding management of these birds in captivity to reduce the risk of protozoal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Sato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, CEP 80035-050 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Miúriel de Aquino Goulart
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, CEP 91540-000 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Aline Luiza Konell
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, CEP 80035-050 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Marilia de Oliveira Koch
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, CEP 80035-050 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Flávia Moreira da Fonseca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, CEP 80035-050 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Morel
- Hayabusa - Falconry Company and Environmental Consulting, Estrada da Carapina, 1001, CEP 95400-000 São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Locatelli-Dittrich
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, CEP 80035-050 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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Dubey JP, Murata FHA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, Kwok OCH, Su C. Epidemiologic significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in turkeys, ducks, ratites and other wild birds: 2009-2020. Parasitology 2021; 148:1-30. [PMID: 33070787 PMCID: PMC11010194 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020001961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Wild and domestic avian species are important in the epidemiology of T. gondii infections because felids prey on them and excrete millions of oocysts in the environment, disseminating the infection. Herbivorous birds are also excellent sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. Toxoplasma gondii infections in birds of prey reflect infections in intermediate hosts. Humans can become infected by consuming undercooked avian tissues. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii strains isolated from turkeys, geese, ducks, ratites and avian species (excluding chickens) worldwide 2009-2020. Genetic diversity of 102 T. gondii DNA samples isolated worldwide is discussed. The role of migratory birds in dissemination of T. gondii infection is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. P. Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD20705-2350, USA
| | - F. H. A. Murata
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD20705-2350, USA
| | - C. K. Cerqueira-Cézar
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD20705-2350, USA
| | - O. C. H. Kwok
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD20705-2350, USA
| | - C. Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN37996-0845, USA
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Epidemiologic Survey on Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella pseudospiralis Infection in Corvids from Central Italy. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050336. [PMID: 32365814 PMCID: PMC7281706 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging corvids—678 magpies (Pica pica) and 120 hooded crows (Corvus cornix) from nine protected areas of the Pisa province (central Italy)—were examined for Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella pseudospiralis. The intracardiac blood clots from 651 magpies and 120 hooded crows were serologically examined for T. gondii. The DNA extracted from the hearts of seropositive birds was then used to perform a nested PCR for the amplification of the T. gondii B1 gene and for genotyping for SAG genetic markers. Breast muscle samples from 678 magpies and 91 hooded crows were tested by an artificial digestion method for Trichinella. Data were statistically analyzed. Forty-five (5.8%—41 magpies and four hooded crows) out of the 771 examined animals scored seropositive for T. gondii, with titers ranging from 1:25 to 1:100. T. gondii DNA was detected in 15 of the 45 positive birds and T. gondii genotypes II and III were identified. No positivity for T. pseudospiralis was found. No significant differences between the two species of corvids and among the different areas of origin were observed for seropositivity to T. gondii. This is the first extensive study on both T. gondii and T. pseudospiralis in magpies and hooded crows, as well as the first detection of T. gondii SAG genotypes in magpies.
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Multidecade Mortality and a Homolog of Hepatitis C Virus in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the National Bird of the USA. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14953. [PMID: 31628350 PMCID: PMC6802099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50580-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) once experienced near-extinction but has since rebounded. For decades, bald eagles near the Wisconsin River, USA, have experienced a lethal syndrome with characteristic clinical and pathological features but unknown etiology. Here, we describe a novel hepacivirus-like virus (Flaviviridae: Hepacivirus) identified during an investigation of Wisconsin River eagle syndrome (WRES). Bald eagle hepacivirus (BeHV) belongs to a divergent clade of avian viruses that share features with members of the genera Hepacivirus and Pegivirus. BeHV infected 31.9% of eagles spanning 4,254 km of the coterminous USA, with negative strand viral RNA demonstrating active replication in liver tissues. Eagles from Wisconsin were approximately 10-fold more likely to be infected than eagles from elsewhere. Eagle mitochondrial DNA sequences were homogeneous and geographically unstructured, likely reflecting a recent population bottleneck, whereas BeHV envelope gene sequences showed strong population genetic substructure and isolation by distance, suggesting localized transmission. Cophylogenetic analyses showed no congruity between eagles and their viruses, supporting horizontal rather than vertical transmission. These results expand our knowledge of the Flaviviridae, reveal a striking pattern of decoupled host/virus coevolution on a continental scale, and highlight knowledge gaps about health and conservation in even the most iconic of wildlife species.
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Gazzonis AL, Zanzani SA, Santoro A, Veronesi F, Olivieri E, Villa L, Lubian E, Lovati S, Bottura F, Epis S, Manfredi MT. Toxoplasma gondii infection in raptors from Italy: Seroepidemiology and risk factors analysis. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 60:42-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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A retrospective survey into the presence of Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in archived tissue samples from New Zealand raptors: New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae), Australasian harriers (Circus approximans) and moreporks (Ninox novaeseelandiae). Parasitol Res 2017; 116:2283-2289. [PMID: 28660290 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5536-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human colonisation of New Zealand has resulted in the introduction of emerging diseases, such as avian malaria and toxoplasmosis, which arrived with their exotic avian and mammalian hosts. Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii have a wide host range, and several species of endemic New Zealand birds have developed a fatal disease following infection with either pathogen. However, no reports of either toxoplasmosis or avian malaria in New Zealand raptors, namely, the New Zealand falcons (Falco novaeseelandiae), Australasian harriers (Circus approximans) and moreporks (Ninox novaeseelandiae) exist in the literature. Therefore, this study was designed to determine if these two pathogens are present in these raptors through a retrospective analysis of archived tissue samples. Detection and isolate identification of these pathogens was determined using established histological and molecular techniques. All three species of New Zealand raptors tested positive for the presence of Plasmodium spp. (10/117; 8.5%) and an atypical genotype of T. gondii (9/117; 7.7%). Plasmodium lineages identified include P. elongatum GRW6, P. relictum SGS1, P. relictum PADOM02 and Plasmodium sp. LINN1. Two Australasian harriers and one morepork tested positive for the presence of both Plasmodium spp. and T. gondii. However, the pathogenicity of these organisms to the raptors is unclear as none of the tissues showed histological evidence of clinical disease associated with Plasmodium spp. and T. gondii infections. Thus, these results demonstrate for the first time that these two potential pathogens are present in New Zealand's raptors; however, further research is required to determine the prevalence and pathogenicity of these organisms among the living populations of these birds in the country.
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