scholarly journals PCR Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Portugal

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1926
Author(s):  
Catarina Coelho ◽  
Madalena Vieira-Pinto ◽  
Anabela Vilares ◽  
Maria João Gargaté ◽  
Manuela Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Wildlife plays an important role in the epidemiological cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can be a source of infection to wild and domestic hosts, including human beings. Additionally, as an herbivorous animal, the European wild rabbit may also be a sentinel of environmental contamination with T. gondii and, consequently, an indicator of the potential transmission of this parasite. The purpose of the present work was to detect T. gondii DNA in European wild rabbit from central Portugal, as well as the possible implications for public health. Heart and diaphragm samples were obtained from 28 rabbits hunted in central Portugal. Nested PCR separately amplified the 5′ and 3′ ends of the surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene. T. gondii DNA was detected in 19 out of the 28 sampled animals, resulting in a prevalence of 67.9%. These results show that T. gondii infection occurs in European wild rabbit and therefore may pose a potential risk for humans if consumed as raw or undercooked meat. Measures should be taken in order to prevent infection by this zoonotic parasite and for the conservation of wildlife. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed by means of PCR on T. gondii in European wild rabbit meat samples.

Author(s):  
Daniela Cruz Pereira ◽  
Jitender Pradash Dubey ◽  
Alfredo da Mata ◽  
Helda Neto ◽  
Luís Cardoso ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite the global importance of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, little is known regarding its infection in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP). This is the first report of antibodies to T. gondii in cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from the DRSTP. Antibodies were assessed by the modified agglutination test (MAT), with a cut-off titer of 100 for cattle and 20 for sheep, goats and pigs. The present study revealed an overall seroprevalence of 55.8%; 27.1% in 48 cattle, 68.4% in 98 sheep, 70.1% in 97 goats and 43.7% in 103 pigs. The south geographical area for cattle, the central area for sheep, and adult age and living in the central region for goats were found to be risk factors for seropositivity to T. gondii. These results support the scenario of a considerable presence of sporulated oocysts as well as of infected intermediate hosts in the local environment. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat should be considered as an important potential source of infection for animals and humans in the DRSTP.


1981 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Cox ◽  
J. W. Edmonds ◽  
Rosamond C. H. Shepherd

SummarySera or serum eluates from 1697 wild rabbits [Oryctolagus cuniculus (L)], collected over the past 10 years from 24 sites in 5 geographic regions of Victoria, were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Sera generally were classified into three broad groups, negative (titre < 10), weakly reactive (titre 10 to 100) and strongly positive (titre > 1000). Strongly positive sera came from rabbits collected in a small number of localized areas, most significantly the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) Sewerage Farm at Werribee and Mud Island in Port Phillip Bay.


Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
pp. 1415-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAM MASON ◽  
J. P. DUBEY ◽  
JUDITH E. SMITH ◽  
BRIAN BOAG

SUMMARYIn wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on an estate in Perthshire, central Scotland, the seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiwas 18/548 (3·3%). The wild rabbit could be aT. gondiireservoir and it has potential value as a sentinel ofT. gondiiin environmental substrates.Toxoplasma gondiiwas associated with female sex (P< 0·001) and with relatively heavy infections byEimeria stiedae(P= 0·036). It was not associated with the intensity of coccidial oocysts, the severity of myxomatosis caused by the virusMyxomatosis cuniculi, the intensity of roundworm eggs, the year or season, rabbit age or distance from farm buildings. Coinfections could have been affected by gestational down regulation of type 1 T helper cells. A sudden influx or release ofT. gondiioocysts might have occurred. This is the first report ofT. gondiiin any wild herbivore in Scotland and also the first report of lapineT. gondiias a coinfection withE. stiedae, M. cuniculiand helminths.


Parasitology ◽  
1940 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. R. Evans

1. Between November 1936 and February 1937, ninety-six rabbits were examined, whilst between August 1937 and July 1938, 446 rabbits were examined for cestode parasites. The rabbits were obtained from the same area.2. The rabbits were infected with the following cestodes to the extent given, for the two periods respectively:3. Two species of the genus Hymenolepis are recorded for the first time from the rabbit, and they are briefly described.4. The seasonal fluctuations in the incidence of the above cestodes are discussed.5. The span of life of both Cittotaenia pectinata and C. denticulata is seen to be not greater than 10 months, and evidence is given to show that the intermediate host of C. denticulata is available between April and December, and that of C. pectinata from August to April.6. Evidence of host and age resistance is demonstrated in Cysticercus pisiformis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 70-80
Author(s):  
M. M. Fedorchenko ◽  
V. V. Malina ◽  
V. A. Hryshko

The problem of complete mineral and vitamin nutrition in rabbit breeding is relevant today, despite new discoveries, and research in this direction continues both in Ukraine and around the world. The paper presents experimental data from the results of research to study the effect of different doses of vitamin and mineral supplement "Tekro" in the diets of young rabbits on their productivity, slaughter quality and biological value of rabbit meat. The obtained data of body growth, massometric indicators of carcasses and internal organs of rabbits of experimental groups after slaughter indicate a positive effect of vitamin-mineral supplement "Tekro" on the intensity of development of the body and individual internal organs, which contributes to increased metabolic processes and weight gain in animals research groups. Feeding vitamin and mineral supplements to rabbits of experimental groups of the New Zealand breed for 45 days contributed to a better transformation of feed nutrients into products. In rabbits of the 3rd experimental group, which together with basic ration were fed 3.5 % of the premix "Tekro" at 90 days of age, the highest rates of body weight were recorded, which differed by 8.89 % compared to the control group. In a set of indicators that characterize the nutritional value of rabbit meat, we studied sensory indicators that characterize the quality of rabbit meat: taste, color, pH, juiciness, moisture content, elasticity, aroma, "marbling", etc. It was found that in the appearance of carcasses and muscles in the control group, the samples scored 8.4 points. In the 3-rd and 4-th experimental groups, the number of points on this indicator was higher by 1.2 %. The difference was a trend. Examining the aroma of meat, it was found that in the control of this indicator, the samples scored 7.8 points. In meat samples from experimental groups 3 and 4, the aroma was more identical to natural, so the samples received 2.6 % higher scores. Samples from 3 experimental groups scored the most points in terms of taste. Compared with the control, the figure was higher by 3.6 %. Examining the juiciness of rabbit meat, it was found that samples obtained from carcasses 2 and 3 of the experimental group tended to increase this indicator. Summing up the data, it was found that the highest overall score was found in meat samples from 3 experimental groups. The difference with the control was within the trend and amounted to 2.4 %. Feeding rabbits vitamin and mineral supplements to rabbits helps to obtain good quality meat products with high culinary properties. No data were available to support the effect of vitamin and mineral supplements on compound feed on the synthesis of toxic substances in muscle tissue or the deterioration of rabbit meat. The biological value of muscle samples from rabbits of the 2-nd experimental group did not differ from the control data. The increase was only 0.11 %. It was found that the biological value of muscle tissue from animals of the 4th experimental group was greater than in the control. The difference was 2.6 % Meat obtained from rabbits of the 3rd experimental group, which were fed compound feed with a content of mineral-vitamin supplement "Tekro" 3.5 %, in biological value outweighed the control indicators. The difference was not significant and amounted to 4.1 %. The use of different doses of vitamin and mineral supplements in the feed of young rabbits did not lead to significant changes in the quality of raw hides and furs.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1921
Author(s):  
Sharon Tirosh-Levy ◽  
Amir Steinman ◽  
Avital Minderigiu ◽  
Ori Arieli ◽  
Igor Savitski ◽  
...  

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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