There are not any records on the detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in tissues of wild birds in the African continent. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of DNA from these protozoan parasites in brain tissue samples collected in years 2014-2015 from 110 wild and domestic birds of 15 orders. Birds came mainly from the province of Limpopo (n=103); the other seven birds came from other five provinces of South Africa. Parasite DNAs were detected by PCR in animal brains. While all samples were negative for N. caninum, T. gondii DNA was detected in three (2.7%) birds: a Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata), a Laughing Dove (S. senegalensis) and a Southern-Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas), all from Limpopo province. Positive samples were selected for genotyping by a 15 microsatellite markers method in a single multiplex PCR assay. Only the sample from the Red-eyed Dove was successfully genotyped and characterized as type II. This is the first detection of T. gondii in tissue of native African wild birds and the first study focusing on N. caninum in birds from South Africa.

ARC Animal Production Institute Private Bag X2 Irene 0062 South Africa

Department of Biodiversity University of Limpopo Sovenga 0727 South Africa

INSERM UMR_S 1094 Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale Université de Limoges 87025 Limoges France; National Reference Centre for Toxoplasmosis Biological Resource Center for Toxoplasma Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Limoges Limoges France

University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases Palackého tř 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org

First detection of Toxoplasma gondii Africa 4 lineage in a population of carnivores from South Africa