RESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Rodents are one of the most important intermediate hosts for T. gondii because they are preyed on by cats, who in turn excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in their feces and thus spread the infection. Information on T. gondii infections is spread in numerous reports and is not easily accessible to readers. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and genetic diversity of T. gondii infections in wild rodents worldwide. Data are tabulated by country, by each rodent species alphabetically, and chronologically. Recent genetic diversity of T. gondii strains in rodents is critically evaluated.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Roedores/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Roedores/parasitologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Animais , Animais Selvagens/parasitologia , Bioensaio/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , DNA de Protozoário/isolamento & purificação , Variação Genética , Camundongos , Prevalência , Roedores , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/classificação , Toxoplasma/genéticaRESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected cats or ingesting uncooked or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii are the 2 major modes of transmission of T. gondii. Viable T. gondii is more prevalent in pork and lamb than in beef. In the past decade, there have been many articles on the high seroprevalence in cattle, particularly from China. There is a report of an outbreak of acute toxoplasmosis in humans suspected to be linked to the ingestion of Artisan fresh cheese from cow's milk. There are conflicting reports concerning the rate of congenital transmission of T. gondii in cattle, especially from Brazil. In a report from Brazil, viable T. gondii was isolated from the blood of 1 of 60 pregnant cows slaughtered at an abattoir and from 1 fetus. The role of beef in the epidemiology of T. gondii infections is still not clear. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in cattle from beef and cow's milk worldwide for the past decade.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Bovinos/parasitologia , Saúde Pública , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Brasil/epidemiologia , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/diagnóstico , Doenças dos Bovinos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Bovinos/transmissão , Variação Genética , Genótipo , Saúde Global , Humanos , Carne/parasitologia , Leite/parasitologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/classificação , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/diagnóstico , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/transmissão , Toxoplasmose Congênita/transmissãoRESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Domestic free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. Chickens can be easily infected with T. gondii; however, clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in these hosts. Chickens are comparatively inexpensive and thus are good sentinel animals for T. gondii infections on the farms. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, the persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii strains isolated from chickens worldwide for the past decade. Data on phenotypic and molecular characteristics of 794 viable T. gondii strains from chickens are discussed, including new data on T. gondii isolates from chickens in Brazil. This paper will be of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians and parasitologists.
Assuntos
Galinhas/parasitologia , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Animais , Antígenos de Protozoários/sangue , Brasil/epidemiologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Genes de Protozoários , Variação Genética , Oocistos/isolamento & purificação , Patologia Molecular/métodos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/epidemiologia , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/patologia , Prevalência , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Testes Sorológicos/veterinária , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Toxoplasmose Animal/patologiaRESUMO
Stray dogs are considered as sentinels in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are carnivores and eat a variety of foods, including garbage. In the present study, tissues and sera of 249 stray dogs (Canis familiaris) from Grenada, West Indies were examined for T. gondii infection. Sera were examined for antibodies to T. gondii by the modified agglutination test (MAT); 89 (35.7%) of 249 were seropositive with titers of 25 in seven dogs, 50 in 22 dogs, 100 in 22 dogs, 200 or higher in 38 dogs. Hearts of 76 seropositive dogs were bioassayed in mice. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 12 dogs; these isolates were designated TgDogGr1 to TgDogGr12. These isolates were further propagated in cell culture and DNA isolated from cell culture derived tachyzoites of 12 isolates was genotyped using 10 PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico). The results revealed six genotypes, including ToxoDB PCR-RFLP #1, #2, #3, #7, #13 and #224, with 1, 6, 1, 2, 1 and 1 isolates, respectively. The result supports previous findings that T. gondii population genetics is highly diverse in Grenada.
Assuntos
Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Genótipo , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Cães , Feminino , Variação Genética , Granada/epidemiologia , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Nothing is known of the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii circulating in wildlife in Mexico. In the present study, a mouse virulent T. gondii strain was isolated from the heart of a wild puma (Felis concolor). The puma was found roaming in outskirt of Durango City, Mexico and tranquilized for moving to a zoo. The puma died during translocation and a necropsy examination was performed. The puma had an antibody titer for T. gondii of 200 by the modified agglutination test. Its heart and brain tissue were bioassayed into 2 outbred Swiss Webster (SW) and 1 gamma interferon gene knockout (KO) mouse. The KO mouse and the 2 SW mice that became infected after inoculation with homogenate of puma heart died of acute toxoplasmosis 12, 19 and 20 days p.i. respectively and tachyzoites were found in lungs of all 3 mice. None of the 4 SW and 1 KO mouse inoculated with digest of the puma brain became infected with T. gondii. Tachyzoites from the lungs of mice were propagated in cell cultures. Tachyzoites from cell culture were inoculated into 5 SW; the mice died or had to be killed 14 days p.i. and a cat fed tissues of these mice shed T. gondii oocysts. Results of mortality and infectivity of tachyzoites and oocysts in SW mice indicated that the puma T. gondii strain (designated TgPumaMe1) was virulent for outbred mice. DNA isolated from culture-derived tachyzoites was characterized using 11 PCR-RFLP markers (SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) revealed a new genotype (ToxoDB PCR-RFLP #222). Isolation of atypical genotype T. gondii from wild puma indicates that mouse virulent strains are circulating in wildlife in Mexico.
Assuntos
Coração/parasitologia , Puma , Toxoplasma/classificação , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Variação Genética , Interferon gama/genética , México/epidemiologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Toxoplasma/patogenicidade , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , VirulênciaRESUMO
There is a lack of information concerning the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild birds in Mexico. In the present study, serum samples and tissues from 653 birds from Durango State, Mexico, were evaluated for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii (modified agglutination test, titer 1â¶25 or higher) were found in 17 (2.6%) of the 653 birds, including 1 of 2 curve-billed thrashers (Toxostoma curvirostre), 2 (1 Anas platyrhynchos, 1 Anas diazi) of 4 ducks, 1 of 2 eagles (Aquila sp.), 5 (27.8%) of 18 great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus), 7 (1.3%) of 521 rock pigeons (Columba livia), and 1 (14.3%) of 7 quail (Coturnix coturnix). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in birds captured in a park outside the city zoo (11.6%, 8/69) was significantly higher than that found in birds from other regions (1.5%, 9/584, OR â=â 8.38; 95% CI: 2.82-24.77; P â=â 0.0001). Brains and hearts of 23 birds (17 seropositive, 6 seronegative) were bioassayed in mice for the isolation of T. gondii . Viable T. gondii was isolated from 1 of 7 seropositive pigeons. The DNA obtained from the T. gondii isolate from the pigeon was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP typing using 11 markers (B1, SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) and revealed an atypical genotype. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in great-tailed grackles, the Mexican duck, and curved-billed thrashers and the first survey of wild birds in Mexico.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/epidemiologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Bioensaio/veterinária , Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Aves , DNA de Protozoário/química , Feminino , Genótipo , México/epidemiologia , Camundongos , Prevalência , Toxoplasma/classificação , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasma/patogenicidade , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , VirulênciaRESUMO
Serum samples from 315 horses from Costa Rica, Central America, were examined for the presence of antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora spp., and Toxoplasma gondii by using the surface antigen (SAG) SnSAG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the NhSAG1 ELISA, and the modified agglutination test, respectively. Anti- S. neurona antibodies were found in 42.2% of the horses by using the SnSAG2 ELISA. Anti- Neospora spp. antibodies were found in only 3.5% of the horses by using the NhSAG1 ELISA, and only 1 of these horses was confirmed seropositive by Western blot. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 34.0% of the horses tested, which is higher than in previous reports from North and South America. The finding of anti- S. neurona antibodies in horses from geographical areas where Didelphis marsupialis has wide distribution suggests that D. marsupialis is a potential definitive host for this parasite and a source of infection for these horses.
Assuntos
Coccidiose/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Neospora/imunologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Testes de Aglutinação/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Antígenos de Protozoários/imunologia , Antígenos de Superfície/imunologia , Western Blotting/veterinária , Coccidiose/epidemiologia , Costa Rica/epidemiologia , Didelphis , Vetores de Doenças , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Encefalomielite/veterinária , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/veterinária , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Cavalos , Masculino , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocistose/epidemiologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/imunologiaRESUMO
Worldwide comparison of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens ( Gallus domesticus ) has indicated that T. gondii isolates from Brazil are phenotypically and genetically different from isolates from other countries; most strains from Brazil are pathogenic to mice, there is great genetic variability, most isolates are nonclonal, and Type II is absent or rare. The prevalence of T. gondii in 50 free-range chickens from the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil (this island is 350 km from the mainland) was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT); 42 (84%) chickens had titers of 1ratio5 in 2, 1ratio10 in 4, 1ratio20 in 3, 1ratio40 in 6, 1ratio80 in 6, 1ratio160 in 5, 1ratio320 in 3, and 1ratio640 or higher in 13 chickens. Hearts of 40 seropositive chickens were bioassayed individually in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 24 chickens with MAT titers of 1ratio5 or higher; the isolates were designated TgCKBr210-233. None of the isolates was pathogenic for mice. The restricted fragment length polymorphism using 10 markers revealed 6 genotypes, including the Type II, Type III, and 4 new chicken genotypes (#59-#62) that were different from genotypes so far reported in Brazil. All 24 isolates were successfully genotyped; 15 isolates were Brazil chicken type #59, 1 type #60, 1 type #61, 1 type #62; 5 were Type II (with Type I allele at the Apico locus); and 1 isolate was clonal Type III. Results in this study indicate that T. gondii on this island consists of unique genotypes as well as clonal genotypes that are dominant in Europe and North America.
Assuntos
Galinhas/parasitologia , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/parasitologia , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Animais , Ilhas Atlânticas/epidemiologia , Bioensaio/veterinária , Brasil/epidemiologia , Gatos , Linhagem Celular , Chlorocebus aethiops , Feminino , Genótipo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Doenças das Aves Domésticas/epidemiologia , Toxoplasma/classificação , Toxoplasma/patogenicidade , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , VirulênciaRESUMO
Cats are essential in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in nature. Samples of serum, feces, and tissues from feral cats from St Kitts, West Indies were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test, and found in 71 of 96 (73.9%) of cats with titres of 1:10 in six, 1: 20 in six,1:40 in seven,1: 80 in three, 1: 160 in 10, 1:320 in 13, 1:640 in nine, and 1:1,280 or higher in 17. Tissues of 10 cats were bio-assayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissues of 7 cats; from hearts of 6, from tongue of 5, and brains of 3 cats. All 7 isolates were avirulent for mice. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in the feces of 51 cats. Genotyping of these 7 T. gondii isolates by 10 multi-locus PCR-RFLP markers, including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and an apicoplast marker, Apico, revealed 4 genotypes, including clonal Type II, Type III and 2 unique genotypes. Five of the 7 cats had infection with 2 genotypes, indicating high frequency of mixed infection in the cat population on the St Kitts island.
Assuntos
Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Gatos , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Genes de Protozoários/genética , Genótipo , Masculino , Camundongos , Prevalência , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Índias Ocidentais/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLv) are related to human immunodeficiency virus, and human leukemia virus, respectively; all of these viruses are immunosuppressive. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondi, Bartonella spp., FIV, as well as FeLv antigen were determined in sera from 75 domestic and 101 feral cats (Felis catus) from the Caribbean island of Grenada, West Indies. Using a modified agglutination test, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 23 (30.6%) of the 75 pet cats with titers of 1:25 in 1, 1:50 in 3, 1:400 in 4, 1:500 in 12, 1:800 in 2, and 1:1,600 in 1, and 28 (27.7%) of 101 feral cats with titers of 1:25 in 4, 1:50 in 7, 1:200 in 4, 1:400 in 1, 1:500 in 3, 1:800 in 2, 1:1,600 in 3, and 1:3,200 in 4. Overall, in both pet and feral cats, the seroprevalence increased with age. Antibodies to Bartonella spp. were found in 38 (50.6%) of the 75 pet cats and 52.4% of 101 feral cats. Antibodies to FIV were found in 6 domestic and 22 feral cats. None of the 176 cats was positive for FeLv antigen. There was no correlation among T. gondii, Bartonella spp., and FIV seropositivity.