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Pathology, clinical signs, and tissue distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in experimentally infected reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)
- Source :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Vol 6, Iss 3, Pp 234-240 (2017), International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite found in vertebrates worldwide for which felids serve as definitive hosts. Despite low densities of felids in northern Canada, Inuit people in some regions show unexpectedly high levels of exposure, possibly through handling and consumption of Arctic wildlife. Free-ranging caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are widely harvested for food across the Canadian North, show evidence of seroexposure to T. gondii, and are currently declining in numbers throughout the Arctic. We experimentally infected three captive reindeer (conspecific with caribou) with 1000, 5000 or 10,000 oocysts of T. gondii via stomach intubation to assess clinical signs of infection, pathology, and tissue distribution. An unexposed reindeer served as a negative control. Signs of stress, aggression, and depression were noted for the first two weeks following infection. By 4 weeks post infection, all infected reindeer were positive on a modified agglutination test at the highest titer tested (1:200) for antibodies to T. gondii. At 20 weeks post infection, no gross abnormalities were observed on necropsy. Following histopathology and immunohistochemistry, tissue cysts were visualized in the reindeer given the highest and lowest dose of oocysts. Focal pleuritis and alveolitis were associated with respiratory problems in reindeer given the middle dose. DNA of T. gondii was detected following traditional DNA extraction and conventional PCR on 25 mg samples from 17/33 muscles and organs, and by magnetic capture DNA extraction from 100 g samples from all 26 tissues examined. This research demonstrated that reindeer/caribou can serve as intermediate hosts for T. gondii, and that the parasite may be associated with health effects in wildlife. The presence of T. gondii in all tissues tested, many of which are commonly consumed raw, smoked, or dried in northern communities, suggests that caribou may serve as a source of human exposure to T. gondii.<br />Graphical abstract Image 1<br />Highlights • Rangifer sp. are susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii sporulated oocysts. • Toxoplasma gondii may be associated with detrimental health effect in Rangifer sp. • Rangifer sp. may serve as a source of human exposure to Toxoplasma gondii.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
medicine.medical_specialty
Pathology
030231 tropical medicine
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Article
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Direct agglutination test
Magnetic capture
parasitic diseases
lcsh:Zoology
medicine
Parasite hosting
lcsh:QL1-991
Experimental infection
Respiratory system
2. Zero hunger
biology
Toxoplasma gondii
biology.organism_classification
DNA extraction
3. Good health
Titer
Infectious Diseases
biology.protein
Animal Science and Zoology
Parasitology
Histopathology
Antibody
Toxoplasma
Reindeer
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22132244
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1c128fb27f83c114a851fc574f8dc1f3