Cat-rodent Toxoplasma gondii Type II-variant circulation and limited genetic diversity on the Island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

AbstractTo assess the role of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, WTD) in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis, we conducted a national survey of WTD across the USA for Toxoplasma gondii infection. To do this, we combined serology with parasite isolation to evaluate the prevalence and genetic diversity of T. gondii in this game species. From October 2012 to March 2019, serum and tissues were collected from 914 WTD across the USA. Serum samples were screened for antibodies to T. gondii, and then the tissues of seropositive WTD were bioassayed in mice. Antibodies were detected in 329 (36%) of 914 WTD tested by the modified agglutination test (positive reaction at 1:25 or higher). Viable T. gondii was isolated from the heart of 36 WTD from 11 states. Three of the 36 isolates were pathogenic but not highly virulent to outbred Swiss Webster mice and all 36 isolates could be propagated further in cell culture and were genotyped. For genotyping, DNA extracted from cell culture-derived tachyzoites was characterized by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using the genetic markers SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico. Genotyping revealed seven ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotypes, including 24 isolates for genotype #5 (haplogroup 12), four isolates for #2 (type III, haplogroup 3), three isolates for genotypes #1 (type II, haplogroup 2), two isolates for genotypes #3 (type II, haplogroup 2) and one isolate each for #39, #221 and #224. Genotype #5 was the most frequently isolated, accounting for 66.6% (24 of 36) of the isolates. Combining the 36 isolates from this study with previously reported 69 isolates from WTD, 15 genotypes have been identified. Among these, 50.4% (53/105) isolates belong to genotype #5. Our results indicate moderate genetic diversity of T. gondii in WTD. The results also indicate that undercooked venison should not be consumed by humans or fed to cats.

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First isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii strains from domestic animals in Tunisia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88751-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Arwa Lachkhem ◽

Lokman Galal ◽

Ibtissem Lahmar ◽

Karine Passebosc ◽

Homayoun Riahi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Molecular Typing ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Mouse Bioassay ◽

Type Ii ◽

Animal Tissues ◽

Strain Isolation ◽

The World ◽

First Time

AbstractThe isolation and molecular typing of Toxoplasma gondii strains provide an essential basis for a better understanding of the parasite’s genetic diversity, determinants of its geographical distribution and associated risks to human health. In this study, we isolated and genetically characterized T. gondii strains from domestic animals in Southern and coastal area of Tunisia. Blood, hearts and/or brains were collected from 766 domestic animals (630 sheep and 136 free-range chickens). Strain isolation from these samples was performed using mouse bioassay and genotyping was carried out with a multiplex PCR technique using 15 microsatellite markers. Thirty viable strains of T. gondii were successfully isolated from tissues of sheep (19/142) and chickens (11/33). In addition, 3 strains could be successfully genotyped from animal tissues for which mouse bioassay was unsuccessful. A large predominance of type II strains (n = 29) was found in the sampled regions, followed by type III (n = 3) and, for the first time in Tunisia, a single isolate of Africa 4 lineage from a sheep. Analyses of population genetics showed the presence of a divergent population of type II lineage in Tunisia, supporting limited recent migrations of strains between Tunisia and other countries of the world.

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Human toxoplasmosis: a systematic review for genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in clinical samples

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268818002947 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. A. Hosseini ◽

A. Amouei ◽

M. Sharif ◽

Sh. Sarvi ◽

L. Galal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Type Ii ◽

African Countries ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Low Genetic Diversity ◽

Western Asia ◽

North And South America ◽

North And South

AbstractToxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) as an obligate intracellular protozoan with a worldwide distribution can infect virtually all warm-blooded animals and humans. This study aims to provide a summary of the available data on genotypes of T. gondii in human. Five databases including MEDLINE in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for the T. gondii genotyping in human during 1995–August 2017. Next, we screened all the articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Overall, 26 studies were eligible regarding genotyping T. gondii in human samples. In clonal genotyping, 167 out of 286 cases (58%) were infected with type II. Genetic characterisation of T. gondii isolates displayed that type II was the most predominant genotype in human with the prevalence of 64.3%, 62.1% and 41.7% in patients with AIDS, congenital and ocular toxoplasmosis, respectively. In ToxoDB genotyping, most individuals were infected with genotypes #9 and #65 (21.2%). Based on these results, genotype profile of T. gondii isolates is different throughout the world. The strains in Asian and African countries are characterised by low genetic diversity, while in North and South America a wide diversity of this parasite is found. In countries without any data (e.g. Australia, Western and Southern Africa and Western Asia), identification of T. gondii genotypes might discover higher genetic diversity.

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In vivo and in vitro models show unexpected degrees of virulence among Toxoplasma gondii type II and III isolates from sheep

Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s13567-021-00953-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mercedes Fernández-Escobar ◽

Rafael Calero-Bernal ◽

Javier Regidor-Cerrillo ◽

Raquel Vallejo ◽

Julio Benavides ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Target Cells ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Type Ii ◽

High Genetic Diversity

AbstractToxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic agent with high genetic diversity, complex epidemiology, and variable clinical outcomes in animals and humans. In veterinary medicine, this apicomplexan parasite is considered one of the main infectious agents responsible for reproductive failure in small ruminants worldwide. The aim of this study was to phenotypically characterize 10 Spanish T. gondii isolates recently obtained from sheep in a normalized mouse model and in an ovine trophoblast cell line (AH-1) as infection target cells. The panel of isolates met selection criteria regarding such parameters as genetic diversity [types II (ToxoDB #1 and #3) and III (#2)], geographical location, and sample of origin (aborted foetal brain tissues or adult sheep myocardium). Evaluations of in vivo mortality, morbidity, parasite burden and histopathology were performed. Important variations between isolates were observed, although all isolates were classified as “nonvirulent” (< 30% cumulative mortality). The isolates TgShSp16 (#3) and TgShSp24 (#2) presented higher degrees of virulence. Significant differences were found in terms of in vitro invasion rates and tachyzoite yield at 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) between TgShSp1 and TgShSp24 isolates, which exhibited the lowest and highest rates, respectively. The study of the CS3, ROP18 and ROP5 loci allelic profiles revealed only type III alleles in ToxoDB #2 isolates and type II alleles in the #1 and #3 isolates included. We concluded that there are relevant intra- and inter-genotype virulence differences in Spanish T. gondii isolates, which could not be inferred by genetic characterization using currently described molecular markers.

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Recent epidemiologic, clinical, and genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii infections in non-human primates

Research in Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.04.017 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jitender P. Dubey ◽

Fernando H.A. Murata ◽

Camila K. Cerqueira-Cézar ◽

Oliver C.H. Kwok ◽

Yurong Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii

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Molecular characterization showed limited genetic diversity among Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from humans and animals in Malaysia

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease ◽

10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.09.004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 304-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Soo Tein Ngoi ◽

Kwai Lin Thong

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Salmonella Enteritidis ◽

Limited Genetic Diversity

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Further Evidence for Limited Genetic Diversity among East African Isolates of Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus

Journal of Phytopathology ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0434.2007.01338.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 156 (3) ◽

pp. 181-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

V. Aritua ◽

E. Barg ◽

E. Adipala ◽

R. W. Gibson ◽

H. J. Vetten

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

East African ◽

Limited Genetic Diversity

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Calomys callosus chronically infected by Toxoplasma gondii clonal type II strain and reinfected by Brazilian strains is not able to prevent vertical transmission

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2015.00181 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Priscila S. Franco ◽

Neide M. da Silva ◽

Bellisa de Freitas Barbosa ◽

Angelica de Oliveira Gomes ◽

Francesca Ietta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Type Ii ◽

Clonal Type ◽

Calomys Callosus

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Comprehensive Characterization of Toxoplasma Acyl Coenzyme A-Binding Protein TgACBP2 and Its Critical Role in Parasite Cardiolipin Metabolism

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01597-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yong Fu ◽

Xia Cui ◽

Sai Fan ◽

Jing Liu ◽

Xiao Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Ankyrin Repeat ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Content Type ◽

High K ◽

Acyl Coenzyme A

ABSTRACT Acyl coenzyme A (CoA)-binding protein (ACBP) can bind acyl-CoAs with high specificity and affinity, thus playing multiple roles in cellular functions. Mitochondria of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii have emerged as key organelles for lipid metabolism and signaling transduction. However, the rationale for how this parasite utilizes acyl-CoA-binding protein to regulate mitochondrial lipid metabolism remains unclear. Here, we show that an ankyrin repeat-containing protein, TgACBP2, is localized to mitochondria and displays active acyl-CoA-binding activities. Dephosphorylation of TgACBP2 is associated with relocation from the plasma membrane to the mitochondria under conditions of regulation of environmental [K+]. Under high [K+] conditions, loss of ACBP2 induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis-like cell death. Disruption of ACBP2 caused growth and virulence defects in the type II strain but not in type I parasites. Interestingly, mitochondrial association factor-1 (MAF1)-mediated host mitochondrial association (HMA) restored the growth ability of ACBP2-deficient type II parasites. Lipidomics analysis indicated that ACBP2 plays key roles in the cardiolipin metabolism of type II parasites and that MAF1 expression complemented the lipid metabolism defects of ACBP2-deficient type II parasites. In addition, disruption of ACBP2 caused attenuated virulence of Prugniuad (Pru) parasites for mice. Taking the results collectively, these data indicate that ACBP2 is critical for the growth and virulence of type II parasites and for the growth of type I parasites under high [K+] conditions. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful human parasites, infecting nearly one-third of the total world population. T. gondii tachyzoites residing within parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) can acquire fatty acids both via salvage from host cells and via de novo synthesis pathways for membrane biogenesis. However, although fatty acid fluxes are known to exist in this parasite, how fatty acids flow through Toxoplasma lipid metabolic organelles, especially mitochondria, remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Toxoplasma expresses an active ankyrin repeat containing protein TgACBP2 to coordinate cardiolipin metabolism. Specifically, HMA acquisition resulting from heterologous functional expression of MAF1 rescued growth and lipid metabolism defects in ACBP2-deficient type II parasites, manifesting the complementary role of host mitochondria in parasite cardiolipin metabolism. This work highlights the importance of TgACBP2 in parasite cardiolipin metabolism and provides evidence for metabolic association of host mitochondria with T. gondii.

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