The development and implementation of a method using blue mussels (Mytilus spp.) as biosentinels of Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii contamination in marine aquatic environments

This pilot study was aimed at documenting the presence of fecal indicators and enteric pathogens in blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) from 6 communities in Nunavik, Quebec. One to four 2 kg samples of mussels were collected at low tide in each community. Samples were investigated by enumeration methods for the fecal indicators enterococci, Escherichia coli , F-specific coliphages, Clostridium perfringens , and by molecular identification for the pathogens norovirus, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni , Campylobacter coli , and Campylobacter lari , verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (particularly serovar O157:H7), Shigella spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica . In 5 communities, the presence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. was also tested by microscopy and molecular methods and that of Toxoplasma gondii was tested by molecular methods. Apart from small quantities of Clostridium perfringens in 2 samples, no bacterial or viral pathogens were detected in the mussels. Toxoplasma gondii was also not detected. However, G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. were present in 18% and 73% of the samples investigated for these pathogens, respectively. When considering the indicators and the viral and bacterial pathogens investigated, the mussels examined were of good microbiological quality, but considering the presence of potentially zoonotic protozoa, it should be recommended that consumers cook the molluscs well before eating them.

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Potential Risk of Three Zoonotic Protozoa (Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii) Transmission from Fish Consumption

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9121913 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1913

Author(s):

Samantha Moratal ◽

M. Auxiliadora Dea-Ayuela ◽

Jesús Cardells ◽

Naima M. Marco-Hirs ◽

Silvia Puigcercós ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Global Changes ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Natural Hosts ◽

New Locations

In recent decades, worldwide fish consumption has increased notably worldwide. Despite the health benefits of fish consumption, it also can suppose a risk because of fishborne diseases, including parasitic infections. Global changes are leading to the emergence of parasites in new locations and to the appearance of new sources of transmission. That is the case of the zoonotic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii; all of them reach aquatic environments and have been found in shellfish. Similarly, these protozoa can be present in other aquatic animals, such as fish. The present review gives an overview on these three zoonotic protozoa in order to understand their potential presence in fish and to comprehensively revise all the evidences of fish as a new potential source of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii transmission. All of them have been found in both marine and freshwater fishes. Until now, it has not been possible to demonstrate that fish are natural hosts for these protozoa; otherwise, they would merely act as mechanical transporters. Nevertheless, even if fish only accumulate and transport these protozoa, they could be a “new” source of infection for people.

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Molecular diagnosis of the curly lettuce parasitic contamination from hydroponic cultivation from supermarkets

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612020095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira ◽

Jonatan Batista Reis ◽

Aline Ticiani Pereira Paschoal ◽

Letícia Santos Balbino ◽

Amanda Bertão-Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Dna Extraction ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Hydroponic Cultivation ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Fluctuation Method ◽

The City ◽

Commercial Kit

Abstract The consumption of vegetables has increased in recent years due to the search for a healthier diet that is rich in fiber and has fewer calories. To assess the parasitic contamination of lettuce sold in markets, a survey of parasites was carried out from a supermarket chain in the city of Londrina, Paraná. A total of thirty samples of lettuce were purchased in the ten markets visited, three in each, of which ten were conventionally cultivated, ten were hydroponically cultivated, and ten were organically cultivated. All samples were analyzed using the sedimentation methods of Hoffman, Pons and Janer and the fluctuation method of Faust and colleagues and Willis with adaptations. In addition, the samples were subjected to DNA extraction by a commercial kit and polymerase chain reaction to detect Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp., which are protozoa that cause food and waterborne parasitic outbreaks. All samples were negative for sedimentation and flotation techniques. One of the hydroponically cultivated samples was positive for T. gondii. The results demonstrate the risk of curly lettuce contamination from hydroponic cultivation and the need for proper cleaning of these foods before consumption.

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Development of a qRT-PCR method to assess the viability of Giardia intestinalis cysts, Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii oocysts

Food Control ◽

10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.06.007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

pp. 359-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Emmanuelle Travaillé ◽

Stéphanie La Carbona ◽

Gilles Gargala ◽

Dominique Aubert ◽

Karine Guyot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Giardia Intestinalis ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Pcr Method

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Occurrence of gastrointestinal protozoans in cats from Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2020v41n1p213 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 213

Author(s):

Keila Jimenez Torrico ◽

Nelson Jessé Rodrigues dos Santos ◽

Hugo Luca Abate ◽

Felippe Danyel Cardoso Martins ◽

Luiz Daniel de Barros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Positive Sample ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Specific Pcr ◽

Identity Match ◽

Pcr Products ◽

The City

Protozoans are widely distributed, and several species may parasitize the digestive tracts of cats (Felis catus), and can be transmitted to humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the species and occurrence of gastrointestinal protozoans in cats in the city of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. A total of 206 cat fecal samples were tested, of which 141 were from shelter animals, and 65 were from pets owned by local people. Samples were processed by parasitological techniques. Coproparasitological techniques (Willis, Faust and Ziehl-Neelsen) were performed for detection of protozoan parasites. Subsequently, all samples were processed by PCR protocols specific to Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. PCR products from positive samples were selected for sequencing. No samples were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. using the Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Using specific PCR protocols, 1/206 (0.48%) samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. After purification, this one positive sample was sequenced, and it demonstrated a 100% identity match to Cryptosporidium muris. Using specific PCR protocols, 13/206 (9.22%) cat fecal samples tested, including 2/65 (3.08%) pet cat fecal samples, were positive for T. gondii. PCR analysis revealed that 37/206 (17.96%) of cat fecal samples were positive for Giardia spp., including 27/141 (19.15%) of shelter cat fecal samples, and 10/65 (15.38%) pet cat fecal samples (p = 0.5124). When sequenced, these positive samples showed a 100% identity match with Giardia duodenalis. This study demonstrated that infections with Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Giardia duodenalis are present in the population of both pet cats and shelter cats in the city of Londrina. This poses a risk to public health, because these parasites have a high zoonotic potential.

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Toxoplasma gondii and Other Zoonotic Protozoans in Mediterranean Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): A Food Safety Concern?

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-157 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 535-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

TIZIANA TEDDE ◽

MARIANNA MARANGI ◽

ROBERTO PAPINI ◽

SARA SALZA ◽

GIOVANNI NORMANNO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Mytilus Edulis ◽

Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽

Blue Mussel ◽

Safety Concern ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Retail Outlets ◽

Mediterranean Mussel ◽

Foodborne Infection

ABSTRACT Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are among the most consumed fishery products, but they are frequent vehicles of foodborne infection worldwide. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and seasonality of zoonotic protozoans in mussels farmed or sold at retail outlets in Italy. We collected and tested 1,440 M. galloprovincialis and 180 M. edulis. Pooled samples were molecularly tested for Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii and then sequenced. Sixty-two (45.9%; 95% confidence interval, 37.5 to 54.3%) mussel pools tested positive for one or more of the investigated pathogens. Both Mytilus species and samples from all the investigated areas harbored pathogens. Mussels were statistically more contaminated by Cryptosporidium spp., followed by T. gondii and G. duodenalis assemblage A, and M. galloprovincialis was more contaminated than M. edulis (P < 0.01). Contamination was more likely in mussels at retail outlets (P < 0.05) than in those from farms and in mussels collected in spring (P < 0.01) than in other seasons. This is the first report of T. gondii found in M. galloprovincialis in Italy and in M. edulis in Europe. The detection of zoonotic protozoans in a widely consumed food source indicates the need for a more detailed microbiological risk analysis, especially considering that bivalve mollusks are often consumed raw worldwide.

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