Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain

Abstract Introduction Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasites worldwide and affects the vast majority of warm-blooded animal species, including humans. Postnatal infection in humans occurs through the ingestion of sporulated T. gondii oocysts or via the oral intake of parasite tissue cysts during the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. In this regard, given their high exposure to oocysts, chickens (Gallus domesticus) raised on the ground constitute a potential source of T. gondii. Material and Methods For the first time in Spain, a survey was undertaken in commercial retail free-range poultry. A total of 50 thighs from different animals were analysed. The samples were homogenised and an acid pepsin digestion procedure was applied prior to molecular analysis. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was isolated from meat by qPCR. Two sets of primers were used for DNA amplification targeting the specific sequence of a 529 bp repeat element and another set of primers was utilised for the surface antigen protein-1 gene. Results DNA extracted from 5 out of 50 tissue samples was positive for both genes by qPCR amplification. Conclusion The 10% prevalence of Toxoplasma infection found in commercial free-range chickens raises public health issues.

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors in domestic pigs raised from Cuba

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-021-07245-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julio César Castillo-Cuenca ◽

Álvaro Martínez-Moreno ◽

José Manuel Diaz-Cao ◽

Angel Entrena-García ◽

Jorge Fraga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Meat Products ◽

Control Measures ◽

Health Concern ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Weaning Pigs ◽

Associated Risk Factors

AbstractA cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors in pigs in the largest pork-producing region in Cuba. Serum samples from 420 pigs, including 210 sows and 210 post-weaning pigs, were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 56 animals (13.3%, 95% CI: 10.1–16.6). A generalized estimating equations model revealed that the risk factors associated with higher seropositivity in pigs were altitude (higher in farm’s location < 250 m above sea level (masl) versus ≥ 250 masl) and age (higher in sows compared to post-weaning pigs). The results indicated that this protozoan parasite is widely distributed on pig farms in the study area, which is a public health concern since the consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat products containing tissue cysts is considered one of the main routes of T. gondii transmission worldwide. Control measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of exposure to T. gondii in pigs in Cuba.

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Biologic and genetic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolates in free-range chickens from Costa Rica, Central America

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.031 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 139 (1-3) ◽

pp. 29-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

J.P. Dubey ◽

C. Su ◽

J. Oliveira ◽

J.A. Morales ◽

R.V. Bolaños ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Central America ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Free Range ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Isolates

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First report on the isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii strains from free-range chickens in the state of Mato Grosso, Midwestern Brazil

Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101725 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101725

Author(s):

Rute Witter ◽

Hilda Fátima Jesus Pena ◽

Maerle Oliveira Maia ◽

Leodil da Costa Freitas ◽

Sayanne Luns Hatum Almeida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

The State ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

First Report ◽

Free Range

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Evidence of the three main clonalToxoplasma gondiilineages from wild mammalian carnivores in the UK

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182013001169 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 140 (14) ◽

pp. 1768-1776 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

A. BURRELLS ◽

P. M. BARTLEY ◽

I. A. ZIMMER ◽

S. ROY ◽

A. C. KITCHENER ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Rflp Markers ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

Few Data ◽

The Uk

SUMMARYToxoplasma gondiiis a zoonotic pathogen defined by three main clonal lineages (types I, II, III), of which type II is most common in Europe. Very few data exist on the prevalence and genotypes ofT. gondiiin the UK. Wildlife can act as sentinel species forT. gondiigenotypes present in the environment, which may subsequently be transmitted to livestock and humans. DNA was extracted from tissue samples of wild British carnivores, including 99 ferrets, 83 red foxes, 70 polecats, 65 mink, 64 badgers and 9 stoats. Parasite DNA was detected using a nested ITS1 PCR specific forT. gondii, PCR positive samples were subsequently genotyped using five PCR–RFLP markers.Toxoplasma gondiiDNA was detected within all these mammal species and prevalence varied from 6·0 to 44·4% depending on the host. PCR–RFLP genotyping identified type II as the predominant lineage, but type III and type I alleles were also identified. No atypical or mixed genotypes were identified within these animals. This study demonstrates the presence of alleles for all three clonal lineages with potential for transmission to cats and livestock. This is the first DNA-based study ofT. gondiiprevalence and genotypes across a broad range of wild British carnivores.

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Detection of Viable Toxoplasma gondii in Free-Range Pigs from the Special Nature Reserve of Zasavica

Contemporary Agriculture ◽

10.1515/contagri-2016-0010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 65 (3-4) ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ljiljana Kuruca ◽

Ivana Klun ◽

Aleksandra Uzelac ◽

Aleksandra Nikolić ◽

Branko Bobić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Heart Tissue ◽

Human Infection ◽

Serological Screening ◽

Free Range ◽

Modified Agglutination Test ◽

Successful Isolation ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Great Appreciation

SummaryToxoplasma gondii is considered one of the most successful parasites of humans and animals. The ingestion of viable cysts through the consumption of undercooked pork is recognized as a significant route of human infection with T. gondii. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of viable parasite in tissues of free-range pigs from the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve. All pigs were of the Mangulica breed, raised in a traditional way. The serological screening was performed using a modified agglutination test (MAT). The isolation of viable T. gondii was attempted by a bioassay of pig heart tissue in mice, while the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeted at the 529 bp repetitive element of T. gondii was used to detect parasitic DNA in digested hearts. Specific antibodies were detected in 12 out of 18 pigs examined. The bioassay was performed for five MAT-positive and one MAT-negative pig, and a total of three isolates were obtained. qPCR was performed for all samples, including one MAT-negative sample that was not bioassayed. The presence of T. gondii DNA was confirmed in all hearts with a positive bioassay as well as in one originating from seropositive and one from seronegative pig whose hearts were not bioassayed. The successful isolation of viable cysts, presence of risk factors (such as older age at the time of slaughter) and increased contact with the environment, along with the great appreciation of Serbian consumers towards home-cured Mangulica’s meat, make this breed worthy of consideration as a potentially important reservoir of human infection.

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Molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens reveals new genotypes in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612021029 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende ◽

Jaqueline Ataíde Silva Lima da Igreja ◽

Antônio Roberto Gomes-Júnior ◽

Jade de Oliveira Melo ◽

João Luís Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Seroprevalence Rate ◽

Free Range ◽

Low Genetic Diversity ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

Peptic Digestion ◽

Brain Cysts ◽

Genotypic Characteristics

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotypic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from free-range chickens in the metropolitan area of Goiânia, Goiás, in Brazil’s central-west region. The seroprevalence rate was found to be 96%, according to an indirect hemagglutination assay. Brain and heart samples were processed by peptic digestion for a mice bioassay. The tissues were homogenized and the resulting samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which revealed that 64% of them contained the parasite's DNA. The mice bioassay revealed 15 isolates, 8 of them tachyzoites isolates from the peritoneal lavage and 7 from brain cysts. T. gondii genotypes were determined through PCR-RFLP, using the following markers: SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, alt. SAG2, Apico and CS3. Three genotypes were identified, inclued ToxoDB #65, and the other two are not yet described in the literature. Hence, we conclude that the isolates obtained from the metropolitan area of Goiânia showed relatively low genetic diversity.

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Toxocara DNA amplification in serum and tissue samples in BALB/c mice

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111429 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 111429

Author(s):

Gabriela Rodrigues e Fonseca ◽

Gessica Baptista de Mello ◽

Fabiana Martins de Paula ◽

Fernanda Melo Malta ◽

Ronaldo Cesar Borges Gryschek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Amplification ◽

Tissue Samples

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Clinical validation of qPCR Target Selector™ assays using highly specific switch-blockers for rare mutation detection

Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1136/jclinpath-2019-206381 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (10) ◽

pp. 648-655

Author(s):

Lyle Arnold ◽

Vassilios Alexiadis ◽

Tim watanaskul ◽

Vahid Zarrabi ◽

Jason Poole ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liquid Biopsy ◽

Dna Amplification ◽

Resistance Mutations ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Dna Mutations ◽

Substantial Risk ◽

Specific Amplification ◽

Circulating Tumour Dna

AimsThe identification of actionable DNA mutations associated with a patient’s tumour is critical for devising a targeted, personalised cancer treatment strategy. However, these molecular analyses are typically performed using tissue obtained via biopsy, which involves substantial risk and is often not feasible. In addition, biopsied tissue does not always reflect tumour heterogeneity, and sequential biopsies to track disease progression (eg, emergence of drug resistance mutations) are not well tolerated. To overcome these and other biopsy-associated limitations, we have developed non-invasive ‘liquid biopsy’ technologies to enable the molecular characterisation of a patient’s cancer using peripheral blood samples.MethodsThe Target Selector ctDNA platform uses a real-time PCR-based approach, coupled with DNA sequencing, to identify cancer-associated genetic mutations within circulating tumour DNA. This is accomplished via a patented blocking approach suppressing wild-type DNA amplification, while allowing specific amplification of mutant alleles.ResultsTo promote the clinical uptake of liquid biopsy technologies, it is first critical to demonstrate concordance between results obtained via liquid and traditional biopsy procedures. Here, we focused on three genes frequently mutated in cancer: EGFR (Del19, L858, and T790), BRAF (V600) and KRAS (G12/G13). For each Target Selector assay, we demonstrated extremely high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity compared with results obtained from tissue biopsies. Overall, we found between 93% and 96% concordance to blinded tissue samples across 127 clinical assays.ConclusionsThe switch-blocker technology reported here offers a highly effective method for non-invasively determining the molecular signatures of patients with cancer.

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High Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora Spp. in Donkeys in Israel: Serological Survey and Case Reports

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10101921 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1921

Author(s):

Sharon Tirosh-Levy ◽

Amir Steinman ◽

Avital Minderigiu ◽

Ori Arieli ◽

Igor Savitski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Case Reports ◽

Palestinian Authority ◽

Serum Samples ◽

High Exposure ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Animal Shelters ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Coccidian Parasites

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. are closely related cyst-forming coccidian parasites, which infect various animal species and have considerable zoonotic and economic implications, respectively. Both parasites are endemic in Israel and have been reported to infect wild and domestic animals. This study was conceived to evaluate the serologic exposure of donkeys to these parasites. Serum samples were collected from 98 donkeys. Half of them (n = 49) were from animal shelters in Israel, and the rest (n = 49) were working donkeys from the Palestinian Authority. The donkeys were screened for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma and anti-Neospora antibodies by immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFATs). The seroprevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. was 94% and 70%, respectively, and 69% of the donkeys were exposed to both parasites. In addition, N. caninum tissue cysts were documented in two donkeys during post-mortem examination. This is the first report of the exposure of donkeys to T. gondii and Neospora spp. in the area. The high prevalence found in this study suggests that donkeys may have a role in the maintenance of these parasites in the area, thus serving as a source of infection for the definitive hosts.

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