Search

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are apicomplexan protozoa of major concern in livestock and T. gondii is also considered one of the major threats and a public health concern. These protozoa have a wide range of intermediate hosts, including birds. The present work aimed to assess the prevalence of these cyst-forming parasites in migratory and sedentary birds of prey. The skeletal muscle and myocardium of 159 birds of prey from Central Italy, belonging to 19 species and recovered across 6 Wildlife Recovery Centers/Care structures along the Italian migratory route, were collected specifically for molecular (PCR) and for histopathological analysis to detect T. gondii and N. caninum. For the molecular analysis, genomic DNA was extracted. The DNA was tested by sequence typing, targeting GRA6, 529 bp repeated element, B1, PK1, BTUB, SAG2, alt.SAG2, and APICO genes for T. gondii and to end-point PCR targeting NC5 gene for N. caninum. Thirty-seven out of the one hundred and fifty-nine analyzed samples tested positive for T. gondii with a prevalence of 23.27% and nine for N. caninum, with a prevalence of 5.66%. Thirty-two sequences were obtained from the thirty-seven isolates of T. gondii. Among these, 26 presented alleles compatible with type I strain in 1 or more loci, 4 with type II strain and 2 consisted of atypical strains. Toxoplasma gondii genetic variability in birds of prey confirms previous findings of wildlife as reservoirs of atypical strains. Results from the histology showed few protozoal tissue cysts in skeletal muscle (n. 4) and hearts (n. 2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Summa, Animali da Compagnia is the property of Point Veterinaire Italie s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The comparison of the sensitivities of two molecular assays designed to target the multi-copy sequences of the Toxoplasma gondii genomic B1 region and 529 bp-RE respectively, in detecting T. gondii in swine muscle was assessed. Diaphragm pillars were obtained from 498 slaughtered pigs managed in intensive farms in Central Italy. Genomic DNA was extracted from the tissues and T. gondii- B1 and 529 bp-RE sequences were amplified by specific PCR protocols. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 165 samples (33.13%). There was a good correlation (κ = 0.77) between the results obtained targeting the two different genetic markers, however the 529 bp RE-PCR assay overall detected a significantly higher ( P < 0.05) number of T. gondii -positive samples (150 samples) than the B1-PCR protocol (134). Our results show that: i) standardized B1 and 529 bp-RE PCRs applied to muscle tissues can detect a high rate of T. gondii- infection; ii) a multi-target PCR approach is recommended for the accurate diagnosis of infection in swine and can also be used in food testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six hundred and thirty individual serum samples from dairy sheep were tested for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The sampled animals came from 33 dairy herds representative of the southern area of the Tuscany region. Questionnaires exploring the management system were filled in by the veterinarian in charge of the herds. Using a cut-off of 1:64, 214 animals (33.97%) were positive with a herd prevalence of 96.97%. Using a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 95% respectively, the true prevalence was calculated as 38.62% (CI, 34.82%, 42.43%). In the multivariate statistical analysis, T. gondii seropositivity in sheep was significantly associated with herd size <300 (OR=2.046, CI=1.284-3.261), still water source (OR=1.514, CI=1.050-2.182), and access of cats to water given to animals (OR=1.585, CI=1.057-2.379). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum samples from 630 milk sheep, in 33 dairy flocks representative of the southern area of the Tuscany region, were tested for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Questionnaires exploring the management system were completed by the veterinarian in charge of the flocks. Results: At least one seropositive animal was found in 32 of the 33 flocks tested (97.0%; 95% CI: 84.2%, 99.9%). In the positive flocks, median seroprevalence was 29.4% (interquartile range: 15.9%-46.1%). Overall animal-level seroprevalence, adjusted for sampling weights and test sensitivity and specificity, was 33.3% (95% CI: 24.8%, 42.7%). In a multivariable negative binomial regression model the number of seropositive animals in a flock decreased with increasing flock size (for >400 vs. <300 animals: count ratio (CR) = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.95; P = 0.028) and was greater on farms where stray cats had access to animals'water (CR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.26; P = 0.027). Conclusions: Small flock size and access of cats to water are potential risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in sheep in the Grosseto district in Tuscany, Italy. Sheep could be an important source of T. gondii infection in humans, since we estimate that between 25% and 43% of sheep in the district were seropositive. Toxoplasmosis is also likely to be an important cause of abortion in sheep in the district. Control and prophylactic measures must be adopted to improve the rearing system and the implementation of health promoting programmes in a joint effort between sheep farmers, farmers' associations and veterinarians to inform about the means of transmission of the infection and for a better understanding of the disease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study which examined the seroprevalence of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in central Italy. It claims that wild and farmed game meat consumption is an emerging risk factor for T. gondii infection in humans. Also cited are the data from the European Food Safety Authority showing that around 50% of wild game is seropositive for T. gondii.

The presence of viable Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in artisanal cheeses made from milk of naturally infected ewes. Ewe milk was analyzed beforehand for the presence and vitality of T. gondii by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Cheeses were prepared from raw milk following a traditional cheesemaking process. The cheese obtained from T. gondii-positive milk was analyzed by LAMP to detect Toxoplasma DNA-positive samples. RT-PCR was then carried out to assess the viability of the parasites in T. gondii-positive milk samples and fresh cheese, after 5 and 15 days of ripening. Physical-chemical parameters of cheeses were also investigated. All cheese samples derived from T. gondii-positive milk were positive according to LAMP, at both 5 and 15 days of ripening, while none of the samples were positive according to RT-PCR. Thus, while the presence of the parasite was demonstrated by the detection of specific DNA, the absence of detectable T. gondii RNA supports the hypothesis that changes in the chemical and physical characteristics occurring during the cheesemaking process and ripening period, could be sufficient to inactivate viable T. gondii in milk, minimizing the risk of human infection through consumption of raw sheep milk cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Toxoplasma gondii infection was investigated in both wild and captive raptors. • Sera were tested for anti- T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test. • Only wild animals tested positive to T. gondii , with a prevalence of 10.7%. • Birds of prey were confirmed as sentinel species for T. gondii environmental spread. Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite infecting a wide range of intermediate hosts, including birds. Nevertheless, scant information on the spread of infection in wild bird populations is available to date. With the aim of updating information on T. gondii infection in birds of prey and possible risk factors associated with the infection, a serosurvey was planned on both wild and captive raptors. An overall of 93 raptors from Northern Italy were tested for the presence of anti- T. gondii antibodies with a commercial modified agglutination test (MAT). A T. gondii prevalence of 10.7% was recorded; the highest seroprevalence was observed within the Family Strigidae (12.5%). Only wild animals tested positive; any statistical difference among species, taxonomic family, age, origin, use, migratory behavior and diet composition was not highlighted. Toxoplasmosis in birds of prey, sentinel species for the environmental spread of T. gondii , should always be considered within sanitary programs devoted to avian species protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]