High seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in wild animals from Portugal

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, recognized as the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic endemic disease in several countries, including Mexico. In the Yucatan State of Mexico, Toxoplasma infection has a high impact in both human and domestic animal health. Wild animals can also host zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in roadkill wild animals in Yucatan was detected using a nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was identified in several organs retrieved from a Yucatan squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis), a coatimundi (Nasua narica), and a greater grison (Galictis vittata). The amplified fragments of Toxoplasma gondii DNA were purified, sequenced, and certified by BLAST analysis. Our results confirm that Toxoplasma gondii can infect wild mammals from Yucatan, which could act as intermediate hosts and contribute to the transmission of the disease to humans and domestic animals, as well as other wild animal species. We present the first molecular evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in a squirrel and a coatimundi from Yucatan, and quite possibly in a greater grison at a global level.Figure 1. Agarose gel presenting PCR amplicons (560 bp) positive to Toxoplasma gondii. 1) C+: positive control; A: Yucatan squirrel liver sample; B: great grison femoral muscle sample; C: coatimundi kidney sample; C-: negative control. 2) A: Yucatan squirrel brain sample; B: great grison lung sample; C-: negative control.

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Variation in Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence: effects of site, sex, species and behaviour between insular and mainland macropods

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr19041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 540 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Patrick L. Taggart ◽

Bronwyn A. Fancourt ◽

David Peacock ◽

Charles G. B. Caraguel ◽

Milton M. McAllister

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Wildlife Conservation ◽

Road Mortality ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Latent Disease ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Indirect Impacts

Context Feral cats threaten wildlife conservation through a range of direct and indirect effects. However, most studies that have evaluated the impacts of feral cats on species of conservation significance have focussed on direct impacts such as predation; few studies have considered the indirect impacts of cat-borne disease. Toxoplasma gondii, a cat-borne parasite, causes both acute and latent disease in a range of wildlife species, and macropods are particularly susceptible. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and supports a high density of feral cats and high seroprevalence of T. gondii in multiple species, relative to the mainland. This suggests that Kangaroo Island has a high environmental contamination with the parasite and a high risk of infection for other species. Aims We aimed to describe T. gondii seroprevalence in culled and road-killed macropods, so as to assess the effects of island versus mainland location, sex, species and behaviour. Methods Macropod sera were tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies using a commercially available modified agglutination test. Key results The seroprevalence of T. gondii in culled western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) was significantly higher on the island (20%, 11/54 positive) than on the mainland (0%, 0/61 positive). There was no difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed (21%, 21/102 positive) kangaroos from the island. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in female (32%, 12/38 positive) than in male (13%, 8/60 positive) kangaroos, but we observed no sex effect in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii), and no effect of species. Conclusions The higher T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods supports previous reports of higher T. gondii exposure in other Kangaroo Island fauna. The lack of difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed kangaroos suggests that T. gondii-positive animals are not more vulnerable to road mortality, in contrast to that suggested previously. Implications Our findings suggest greater potential adverse conservation impacts owing to toxoplasmosis on the island than on the mainland. In light of a recent study demonstrating higher cat abundance on the island than on the mainland, the higher observed T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods is likely to be a consequence of higher cat density.

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High seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and HIV-1 co-infection among drug users in Yunnan province, southwest China

Science China Life Sciences ◽

10.1007/s11427-015-0358-y ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 857-859 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xin Chen ◽

Mei Ye ◽

Yan-Heng Zhou ◽

Feng-Liang Liu ◽

Lin Duo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Drug Users ◽

Yunnan Province ◽

Southwest China ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Hiv 1

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Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from forest fragments of the municipality of Natal, northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612014092 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 501-508 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gislene Fátima da Silva Rocha Fournier ◽

Marcos Gomes Lopes ◽

Arlei Marcili ◽

Diego Garcia Ramirez ◽

Igor Cunha Lima Acosta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Monodelphis Domestica ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Wild Mammals ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Artibeus Lituratus

Toxoplasmosis stands out as a global disease that has felines as definitive hosts. In the municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, two parks are notable for their ecological and social importance. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in short hair cats, bats and small non-volant mammals in these two ecological reserves. Altogether, biological samples were obtained from 154 mammals, 92 wild animals from both areas and 62 domestic cats of the Parque da Cidade. In total, 22 (53.7%) non-volant wild mammals, 11 (21.5%) bats and 28 (52.8%) cats were positive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (≥ 25). It was possible to detect the presence of T. gondii DNA, by means of a molecular amplification of a B1 gene fragment (155bp), in 92 tissue samples from wild animals, including Didelphis albiventris, Monodelphis domestica, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina. Of the 62 cats examined by the same molecular method, T. gondii DNA could be detected in 4 cats. In this study, it was observed the circulation of T. gondii in wild species and domestic cats, demonstrating the involvement of wild and domestic animals in the cycle of T. gondii.

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DNA-based detection of Leptospira wolffii, Giardia intestinalis and Toxoplasma gondii in environmental feces of wild animals in Korea

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science ◽

10.1292/jvms.20-0596 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Priyanka KUMARI ◽

Kyung Yeon EO ◽

Woo-Shin LEE ◽

Junpei KIMURA ◽

Naomichi YAMAMOTO

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Giardia Intestinalis ◽

Wild Animals

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Serological Survey of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii Co-Infection in Rodents in Northwestern Iran

Iranian Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.18502/ijpa.v15i2.3308 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Naser NAZARI ◽

Saeedeh SHOJAEE ◽

Mahboobeh SALIMI ◽

Mehdi MOHEBALI ◽

Navid AHMADIFARD ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Serological Survey ◽

Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Northwestern Iran ◽

Indirect Fluorescence Antibody

Background: Our knowledge of the epidemiology of rodents’ parasitic agents in Iran is scarce, although some of these pathogens play an important role in human and veterinary medicine, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in rodents of northwestern Iran between Mar and Dec 2015. Methods: Overall, 157 serum samples from rodents (101 Meriones persicus, 41 Mus musculus, and 15 Cricetulus migratorius) were assayed by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum Results: We found a prevalence of 20.38% (32/157) for N. caninum, 35% (55/157) for T. gondii. Co-presence of antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii was found in 10 (6.36%) rodents. A significant association was found between the rodents species and seropositivity to N. caninum (P<0.05) but there was no association with rodents species for T. gondii. The overall prevalence of the aforementioned parasites was higher in male versus female rodents. Conclusion: The high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in rodents in the study area has implications for translocation of these infections across wider geographical regions since these rodents are mostly preyed on by cats or dogs; hence, which can transfer the parasite to other hosts.

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Seroprevalence and Spatial Distribution of Toxoplasmosis in Relation to Various Risk Factors in Small Ruminants of Punjab, India

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-4358 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Deeksha Pandit ◽

Mandeep Singh Bal ◽

Paramjit Kaur ◽

L.D. Singla ◽

Vishal Mahajan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

At Risk ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Climatic Zones ◽

Zoonotic Pathogen ◽

History Of ◽

Agroclimatic Zones

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory apicomplexan, intracellular, ubiquitous, eurykaryotic zoonotic pathogen that infects all warm blooded animals. In the present study, 823 small ruminants (245 sheep, 578 goats) were evaluated for T. gondii infection by ELISA to explore seroprevalence and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis from different agro-climatic zones of Punjab. Results revealed high seroprevalence (40.58 %) of T. gondii in small ruminants being higher in sheep (42.85%) than in goat (39.60%). Methods: Seropositivity of toxoplasmosis in sheep and goat with history of abortion was found to be 63.80 and 50.00%, respectively. Goats with the history of abortion were 1.72 times more at risk (Cl =1.15-2.56) to T. gondii infection as compared to animals without the history of abortion (Cl=0.39-0.86). Result: Similarly, sheep with the history of abortion were 2.74 times more at risk (Cl =1.31-5.71) to toxoplasmosis as compared to sheep without abortion history (Cl= 0.17-0.76). Goat and sheep farms with frequent access to cats were 2.03 times (CI=1.05-3.90) and 4.04 times (Cl =1.78-9.14) more at risk, as compared to farms with limited cats access. Spatial distribution and predictive seroprevalence analysis indicate possible risk of toxoplasmosis in whole of the state with higher possibility of disease in agroclimatic zones III, IV and V.

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