Molecular characterization of Toxocara spp. eggs isolated from public parks and playgrounds in Shiraz, Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Choobineh ◽  
F. Mikaeili ◽  
S.M. Sadjjadi ◽  
S. Ebrahimi ◽  
S. Iranmanesh
Keyword(s):  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Its Rdna ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Zinc Sulphate Solution ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

AbstractHuman toxocariasis, a worldwide parasitic disease, is caused by the larval stage of intestinal nematodes of dogs and cats, namely Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Human infection occurs by the accidental ingestion of embryonated eggs present in the soil, vegetables or on other contaminated surfaces, as well as via consumption of uncooked paratenic hosts, such as bird meat and giblets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contamination of soil in public parks and playgrounds in Shiraz using microscopy and molecular methods. A total of 150 soil samples were collected from public parks and playgrounds in various areas of Shiraz, southern Iran. The samples were treated with saturated zinc sulphate solution, and Toxocara spp. eggs were detected by microscopic observation followed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To differentiate T. canis and T. cati eggs from each other, PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-rDNA region by SalI endonuclease enzyme was used. PCR-sequencing was performed to confirm the results of the PCR-RFLP method. Based on the flotation results of the 150 soil samples, six (4%) were found to be positive for Toxocara spp. eggs, whereas nested-PCR showed 24 samples to be positive (16%). Based on the PCR-RFLP method and the sequence of the ITS-rDNA region, a total of 23 out of 24 isolates were confirmed as T. cati and one out of 24 as T. canis. The results showed a higher number of soil samples to be positive for Toxocara by the molecular method than microscopy, and higher T. cati infection in soil samples, which could have an important role in human infection with toxocariasis in this region.

scholarly journals An Integrated Study of Toxocara Infection in Honduran Children: Human Seroepidemiology and Environmental Contamination in a Coastal Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio A. Hernández ◽  
José A. Gabrie ◽  
Carol Anahelka Rodríguez ◽  
Gabriela Matamoros ◽  
María Mercedes Rueda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Environmental Study ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Student Body ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Coastal Community ◽  
Pcr Rflp

(1) Background: Infections caused by Toxocara canis and T. cati are considered zoonoses of global importance. Reports from North and South America indicate that human infections are widespread in both continents, but epidemiological information from Central America is still lacking. (2) Methodology: In the present cross-sectional multi-year study, we aimed to undertake the first seroepidemiological and environmental study on toxocariasis in Honduras. This included the determination of seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in children using a Toxocara spp. purified excretory-secretory antigens enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TES-ELISA) and a confirmatory Western blot. As well, through statistical analysis including logistic regression we aimed at identifying relevant biological and epidemiological factors associated with seropositivity. The study also entailed detection of parasites’ eggs in the soil samples both through Sheather’s concentration method and a nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. (3) Results: The study was undertaken in a coastal community of Honduras in 2 different years, 2015 and 2017. A total of 88 healthy schoolchildren completed the study, with participation of 79% (73/92) and 65% (46/71) of the student body in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Thirty-one children participated in both years (i.e., dual participants). Through both serological tests, seropositivity was confirmed in 88.6% (78/88) of children. Due to the high number of seropositives, logistic regression analysis was not possible for most socio-economic and epidemiological variables. Eosinophilia, on the other hand, was associated with seropositivity, independently of other intestinal helminthic infections. Continued seropositivity was observed in most of the dual participants, while seroconversion was determined in 8 of these children. Microscopic examination of soil samples did not yield any positive results. Through nested PCR-RFLP, 3 of the 50 samples (6%) were positive for Toxocara spp.; two were identified as T. canis and one as T. cati. (4) Conclusions: This work documents for the first time, high levels of human exposure to Toxocara spp. in Honduras. These findings, along with the country’s favorable epidemiological conditions for this zoonosis, emphasize the need for more research to determine whether this infection is underreported in the country.

Distribution of Toxocara infection in the environment and in definitive and paratenic hosts in Estonia

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heli Talvik ◽  
Epp Moks ◽  
Erika Mägi ◽  
T. Järvis ◽  
Illa Miller
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Larval Infection ◽  
Small Intestines ◽  
Paratenic Hosts ◽  
The Town ◽  
Home Territory

The aim of the study was to elucidate the distribution and possible transmission routes of Toxocara spp. infection in Estonia. Out of 454 faecal and sand samples collected from park lawns and sandpits in the town of Tartu, 19 were Toxocara positive (4.2%). Out of the 45 sandpit samples 17.8% were Toxocara positive. Cat faeces was found in 21 sandpit samples. Parasitological necropsies were performed on 41 euthanised stray dogs and 27 cats in the Tallinn Dog Home. Additionally, 13 wild free-roaming brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were captured from the Tallinn Dog Home territory, necropsied and studied for the presence of Toxocara larvae. Toxocara canis adults were found in 14.6% of the dogs and Toxocara cati (syn. mystax) adults in the small intestines of 48.2% of the cats examined. Larval infection was detected in the kidney and liver in 5 dogs (12.2%). Our study demonstrated only low-level larval Toxocara infections in adult dogs. Toxocara larvae were not found in cats and brown rats. According to the results of this study, cats more often carry Toxocara infection than dogs. Under our conditions, stray and free-roaming cats are the main contaminators of the environment with Toxocara eggs. Children playing in sandpits are the main risk group for larval toxocarosis.

Differentiation of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati based on PCR-RFLP analyses of rDNA-ITS and mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 regions

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fattaneh Mikaeili ◽  
Alexander Mathis ◽  
Peter Deplazes ◽  
Hossein Mirhendi ◽  
Afshin Barazesh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Genetic Identification ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Mitochondrial Cox1 ◽  
Rdna Its ◽  
Pcr Rflp

AbstractThe definitive genetic identification of

The occurrence of Toxocara species in naturally infected broiler chickens revealed by molecular approaches

2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zibaei ◽  
S.M. Sadjjadi ◽  
S. Maraghi
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Diagnostic Technique ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Paratenic Host ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

AbstractConsuming raw and undercooked meat is known to enhance the risk of human toxocariasis because Toxocara species have a wide range of paratenic hosts, including chickens. The aim of this study was to identify species of Toxocara in naturally infected broiler chickens using molecular approaches. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for the differentiation of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati larvae recovered from tissues and organs, and identified by microscopic observations. Thirty-three 35- to 47-day-old broiler chickens were used for examination of Toxocara larvae. The duodenum, liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscles and brain of each chicken were examined using the pepsin method, and DNA from each tissue was extracted as the template for PCR assay. The findings revealed that 5 of 33 (15.2%) broiler chickens were infected with Toxocara larvae. Larvae were recovered from the liver (n = 19), duodenum (n = 8), skeletal muscles (n = 8) and brain (n = 2) of broiler chickens naturally infected with Toxocara spp. The results showed that the frequencies of the species in the chickens were T. canis larvae (n = 5, 83.3%) and T. cati larvae (n = 1, 16.7%). Our data from the present study demonstrated the importance of broiler chickens as a paratenic host for the parasite's life cycle in the environment. The implementation of DNA amplification as a routine diagnostic technique is a specific and alternative method for identification of Toxocara larvae, and allowed the observation of specific species under field conditions within the locations where broiler chickens are typically raised and exposed to Toxocara spp. eggs or larvae.

Role of cats in human toxocarosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 400-408
Author(s):  
Pablo David Jimenez Castro ◽  
Sarah GH Sapp
Keyword(s):  
Definitive Host ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Related Disease ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

Toxocara cati, the feline ascarid, is ubiquitous in domestic cats globally and is increasingly recognised as an important zoonotic species. In the definitive host, infections with the adult ascarid usually do not present any clinical signs; if clinical signs do appear, it is usually in kittens infected with T. cati, especially by the trans-mammary route. Diseases may include cachexia, a pot-bellied appearance, respiratory disorders, diarrhoea, vomiting, among other signs, and these may present as early as 3 weeks of age. However, infections with Toxocara spp. larvae in paratenic hosts (including humans and many other animals), can result in serious complications from the migration of larvae. Historically, there has been an assumption that Toxocara canis was the most likely cause of Toxocara spp.-related disease; while it is probably true that T. canis is responsible for the majority of infections, it is important that those caused by T. cati are accurately identified so that the contribution of this parasite to human disease can be established and then handled appropriately. Overall, the detection of infections in cats and the control of parasite stages in the environment are essential to minimise the infection risk to other animals or humans.

scholarly journals Toxocara canis- and Toxocara cati-Induced Neurotoxocarosis is Associated with Comprehensive Brain Transcriptomic Alterations

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Patrick Waindok ◽  
Elisabeth Janecek-Erfurth ◽  
Dimitri L. Lindenwald ◽  
Esther Wilk ◽  
Klaus Schughart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Paratenic Host ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Transcription Analysis ◽  
Whole Genome Microarray ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are globally occurring zoonotic roundworms of dogs and cats. Migration and persistence of Toxocara larvae in the central nervous system of paratenic hosts including humans may cause clinical signs of neurotoxocarosis (NT). As pathomechanisms of NT and host responses against Toxocara larvae are mostly unknown, whole-genome microarray transcription analysis was performed in cerebra and cerebella of experimentally infected C57Bl/6J mice as paratenic host model at days 14, 28, 70, 98, and 120 post-infection. Neuroinvasion of T. cati evoked 220 cerebral and 215 cerebellar differentially transcribed genes (DTGs), but no particular PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships) pathway was affected. In T. canis-infected mice, 1039 cerebral and 2073 cerebellar DTGs were identified. Statistically significant dysregulations occurred in various pathways, including cholesterol biosynthesis, apoptosis signaling, and the Slit/Robo mediated axon guidance as well as different pathways associated with the immune and defense response. Observed dysregulations of the cholesterol biosynthesis, as well as the Alzheimer disease-amyloid secretase pathway in conjunction with previous histopathological neurodegenerative findings, may promote the discussion of T. canis as a causative agent for dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, results contribute to a deeper understanding of the largely unknown pathogenesis and host-parasite interactions during NT, and may provide the basis for prospective investigations evaluating pathogenic mechanisms or designing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

scholarly journals Frequency of soil contamination by Toxocara canis eggs in the south region of São Paulo municipality (SP, Brazil) in a 18 month period

2006 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 317-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maisa Leite de Queiroz ◽  
Marcelo Simonsen ◽  
Maria Aparecida Paschoalotti ◽  
Pedro Paulo Chieffi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Larva Migrans ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
The South ◽  
Sodium Dichromate ◽  
Public Places

Soil contamination by embryonic eggs of Toxocara canis is the main source of human infection by this ascarid larvae resulting, sometimes, in the occurrence of visceral larva migrans syndrome. The objective of the present research is to determine the frequency of T. canis eggs in soil samples monthly collected in nine public places, located at the South Region of São Paulo municipality in a 18-month period, from February 2004 to July 2005. The soil samples collected were treated with a 30% antiformine solution and with a sodium dichromate solution (d = 1.40) and microscopic slides were prepared and examined under light microscopy for searching T. canis eggs. Two peaks of higher frequency had been found, one in February - May 2004 and the other in April - July 2005.

Role of small mammals in the epidemiology of toxocariasis

Parasitology ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dubinský ◽  
K. Havasiová-Reiterová ◽  
B. Peťko ◽  
I. Hovorka ◽  
O. Tomašovičová
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Paratenic Hosts ◽  
Rural Locality ◽  
Micromys Minutus

SUMMARYStudies were conducted on the role of small mammals in maintaining toxocariasis foci in urban, rural and montane biotopes. The lowest relative density of small mammals was recorded in the urban locality and the highest in the rural and montane localities. Anti-Toxocaraantibodies were most frequently detected in synanthropic and hemisynanthropic speciesMus musculus, Apodemus agrariusandMicromys minutus– 32·0, 30·4 and 25·0%, respectively. The highest seropositivity was found in small mammals from the urban and rural localities – 22·2 and 21·6%, respectively.Toxocara caniswas most prevalent in urban stray dogs (75·0%) and least prevalent in foxes from the montane locality (7·0%). The prevalence ofToxocara catiin cats at the urban, rural and montane localities was 66·2, 65·2 and 76·9%, respectively. In clinically healthy human populations, the highest seroprevalence was detected in the rural locality (14·0%). Children of the same area were 3 times more seropositive (12·9%) than those from the urban and montane localities (4·3 and 4·0%). Our studies suggest an important role for small mammals as paratenic hosts – reservoirs ofToxocaralarvae – in maintaining toxocariasis foci. In this respect toxocariasis may be classified as an anthropopurgic focal zoonosis.

scholarly journals Toxoplasma gondii genotypes circulating in domestic pigs in Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kuruca ◽  
Aleksandra Uzelac ◽  
Ivana Klun ◽  
Vesna Lalošević ◽  
Olgica Djurković-Djaković
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Slaughter Pigs ◽  
Commercial Farms ◽  
Dna Genotyping

Consumption of undercooked or raw pork is considered a significant risk factor for human infection with Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure of 18 T. gondii strains obtained from slaughter pigs from Northern Serbia (mainly Vojvodina). The examined samples originated from eight pigs from large commercial farms, six backyard pigs and four free-range Mangalica pigs, all found to be positive for either viable T. gondii or T. gondii DNA. Genotyping was attempted from both pig tissues and mouse brains from the bio-assays using a multiplex multilocus nested polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mn-PCR-RFLP) method with seven markers (GRA6, alt. SAG2, PK-1, BTUB, C22-8, CS3 and Apico). Identification was achieved for nine T. gondii isolates. Seven isolates were classified as type II and two as type III. These results are consistent with previous studies on animal isolates from Serbia as well as with previous reports that type III is more frequently found in samples from Southern Europe than in those from other parts of the continent.

A comparison of Toxocara canis embryonation under controlled conditions in soil and hair

2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Devoy Keegan ◽  
C.V. Holland
Keyword(s):  
Direct Contact ◽  
Toxocara Canis ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Egg Viability ◽  
Rate Of Development ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Two Temperatures ◽  
Paratenic Hosts

AbstractToxocara spp. eggs require a period of time under appropriate environmental conditions to become infective to definitive and paratenic hosts. Temperature and humidity are important factors known to affect the levels of development in soil. We aimed to investigate whether the eggs of T. canis could embryonate in dog hair under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity and, if so, to what degree. No previous work had been carried out on embryonation in hair under controlled conditions. Soil samples exposed to the same conditions as the hair samples were considered a suitable comparison in order to investigate differing levels of development. Development at two temperatures (10°C and 20°C) and the addition of water to samples was investigated over a period of 8 weeks. Importantly, we demonstrated that unembryonated T. canis eggs are capable of development in hair under controlled conditions. The rate of development is lower than that observed in soil, but remains biologically significant in terms of the overall numbers of potentially infective embryonated eggs present. Temperature is responsible for the rate of embryonation while moisture is essential for encouraging development and maintaining egg viability in general. In light of these findings the transmission of Toxocara spp. as a result of direct contact with well-cared-for owned dogs seems unlikely, but should not be ignored.

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