PURPOSE: A new high-resolution next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based method was established to type closely related European type II Toxoplasma gondii strains. METHODS: T. gondii field isolates were collected from different parts of Europe and assessed by whole genome sequencing (WGS). In comparison to ME49 (a type II reference strain), highly polymorphic regions (HPRs) were identified, showing a considerable number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After confirmation by Sanger sequencing, 18 HPRs were used to design a primer panel for multiplex PCR to establish a multilocus Ion AmpliSeq typing method. Toxoplasma gondii isolates and T. gondii present in clinical samples were typed with the new method. The sensitivity of the method was tested with serially diluted reference DNA samples. RESULTS: Among type II specimens, the method could differentiate the same number of haplotypes as the reference standard, microsatellite (MS) typing. Passages of the same isolates and specimens originating from abortion outbreaks were identified as identical. In addition, seven different genotypes, two atypical and two recombinant specimens were clearly distinguished from each other by the method. Furthermore, almost all SNPs detected by the Ion AmpliSeq method corresponded to those expected based on WGS. By testing serially diluted DNA samples, the method exhibited a similar analytical sensitivity as MS typing. CONCLUSION: The new method can distinguish different T. gondii genotypes and detect intra-genotype variability among European type II T. gondii strains. Furthermore, with WGS data additional target regions can be added to the method to potentially increase typing resolution.
- MeSH
- Genetic Variation MeSH
- Genotype MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
- Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length MeSH
- DNA, Protozoan genetics MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Toxoplasma * genetics MeSH
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Equine neosporosis is an intracellular protozoan disease with a global distribution, affecting a diverse range of warm-blooded animals. Neospora caninum Dubey, Carpenter, Speer, Topper et Uggla, 1988 is associated with foetal loss, neurological disease and abortion in equids. No information was available regarding equine N. caninum infection among equids in Iraq. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of N. caninum in equines by using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). A total of 329 blood samples randomly selected from equines, comprising 268 horses and 61 donkeys were examined. The seroprevalence rate of N. caninum was determined as 46% (28/61) for donkeys and 24% (64/268) for horses. The prevalence of N. caninum indicated a significantly higher risk of infection in donkeys compared to horses (P < 0.001). However, the odds of N. caninum infection in draught equids were 8.2 times greater than other equids with a significant difference (P < 0.001). The current study revealed no significant differences in the prevalence of N. caninum across various genders, breeds, clinical statuses, disease histories and among equids that had contact with dogs. While outdoor feeding and mixed (grazing), showed a significant difference (P = 0.003) and (P = 0.75), respectively, in the presence of antibodies against N. caninum compared to indoor feeding (stable). Moreover, the odds of infection in equids with a history of late abortion were 4.8 times higher than those without such a history of abortion (2.20-10.56) with statistical significance (P < 0.001).
- MeSH
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay * veterinary MeSH
- Equidae * parasitology MeSH
- Coccidiosis * veterinary epidemiology parasitology MeSH
- Horses MeSH
- Horse Diseases * epidemiology parasitology MeSH
- Neospora * isolation & purification MeSH
- Prevalence MeSH
- Antibodies, Protozoan blood MeSH
- Seroepidemiologic Studies MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Iraq MeSH
In this review, I take the first-person perspective of a neuroscientist interested in Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908). I reflect on the value of behavioural manipulation as a perturbation tool to understand the organisation of behaviour within the brain. Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces the aversion of rats to the olfactory cues of cat presence. This change in behaviour is one of the often-discussed exemplars of host-parasite coevolution, culminating in the manipulation of the host behaviour for the benefit of the parasite. Such coevolution also means that we can use host-parasite systems as tools to derive fundamental insights about the host brain itself.
- MeSH
- Behavior, Animal * physiology MeSH
- Host-Parasite Interactions * MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Toxoplasma * physiology MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal parasitology MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908), a coccidian protist (Apicomplexa). It has a strong predilection for infecting the central nervous system. Researchers have therefore investigated its association with several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, bipolar disorder, cerebral palsy, depression, Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, Parkinson's disease, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Among these disorders the strongest evidence for a role of T. gondii exists for psychosis in general and schizophrenia in particular. This paper reviews the origins of this association, briefly summarises the current evidence in support, and discusses future research strategies.
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Schizophrenia * MeSH
- Toxoplasma physiology MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis * complications MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and even more the protist Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908, are known to affect the behaviour and mental health of their animal and human hosts. Both pathogens infect a significant fraction of human population, both are neurotropic and survive in the host's body for a long time. While latent infections were thought to be clinically asymptomatic, recent studies suggest otherwise, revealing adverse effects on human health. It was hypothesised that the specific behavioural effects of these pathogens may be side effects of general health impairments in infected individuals. This hypothesis was tested using about one hour-long survey consisting of questionnaires and performance tests on a cohort of 7,762 members of the internet population. Results showed that individuals infected with T. gondii reported worse physical and mental health, and those infected with Borrelia spp. reported worse physical health than uninfected controls. Furthermore, infected and noninfected individuals differed in several personality traits, including conscientiousness, pathogen disgust, injury disgust, Machiavellianism, narcissism, tribalism, anti-authoritarianism, intelligence, reaction time, and precision. While the majority of behavioural effects associated with Borrelia infection were similar to those associated with Toxoplasma infection, some differences were observed, such as performance in the Stroop test. Path analyses and nonparametric partial Kendall correlation tests showed that these effects were not mediated by impaired health in infected individuals, contradicting the side effects hypothesis.
- MeSH
- Borrelia * MeSH
- Borrelia Infections * complications MeSH
- Cognition MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Personality MeSH
- Toxoplasma * MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis * complications MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent protozoan parasite in human populations. This parasite is thought to be primarily transmitted through undercooked meat and contamination by cat feces. Here, we seek to determine if Toxoplasma gondii cysts can be found within human semen. METHODS: We used a mixture of histological and immunofluorescence stains to visualize Toxoplasma gondii cysts in thin smears of human semen. Further, we probed for presence of bradyzoite-specific mRNA transcription using in-situ hybridization. RESULTS: We visualized Toxoplasma gondii cysts in ejaculates of immune-competent and latently infected human volunteers. We confirmed the encystment by probing transcription of a bradyzoite-specific gene in these structures. These observations extend previous observations of the parasite in semen of several non-human host species, including rats, dogs, and sheep. CONCLUSIONS: Toxoplasma gondii infection is a clinically significant infection, in view of its high prevalence, its purported role in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, as well as in the more serious form of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our demonstration of intact Toxoplasma gondii cysts in the ejaculate supports the possibility of sexual transmission of the parasite and provides an impetus for further investigations.
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Parasites MeSH
- Toxoplasma MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis * parasitology physiopathology transmission MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Review MeSH
Apicomplexan parasites have immense impacts on humanity, but their basic cellular processes are often poorly understood. Where endocytosis occurs in these cells, how conserved this process is with other eukaryotes, and what the functions of endocytosis are across this phylum are major unanswered questions. Using the apicomplexan model Toxoplasma, we identified the molecular composition and behavior of unusual, fixed endocytic structures. Here, stable complexes of endocytic proteins differ markedly from the dynamic assembly/disassembly of these machineries in other eukaryotes. We identify that these endocytic structures correspond to the 'micropore' that has been observed throughout the Apicomplexa. Moreover, conserved molecular adaptation of this structure is seen in apicomplexans including the kelch-domain protein K13 that is central to malarial drug-resistance. We determine that a dominant function of endocytosis in Toxoplasma is plasma membrane homeostasis, rather than parasite nutrition, and that these specialized endocytic structures originated early in infrakingdom Alveolata likely in response to the complex cell pellicle that defines this medically and ecologically important ancient eukaryotic lineage.
It is estimated that nearly one-third of the world's human population is infected with Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908). Human infection is commonly asymptomatic, multifaceted, and can manifest in severe pathological forms in congenital toxoplasmosis and immunocompromised individuals. This study attempted to recognise the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in Iranian residents referred to medical laboratories for toxoplasmosis tests throughout the country. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 to 2019 on individuals referred to diagnostic laboratories in 26 provinces, and these laboratories sent their samples to the referral centres. Accordingly, data associated with serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis, age, sex, anti-T. gondii IgG, and IgM status in Iranian residents were collected from two referral diagnostic laboratories. All individuals were evaluated using the antibody immunocapture-chemiluminescence assay (CLIA) method with the Immulite®2000s XPi system. In this study, the first large-scale assay of T. gondii infection in Iran, an overall seroprevalence of 30.4% was among 35,047 patients examined. The highest IgM seropositivity rate was in the 10-20 years old patients. In addition, this study showed a very different prevalence of T. gondii across the country, highest in the humid areas, such as the Caspian Sea basin in the North, and the North West with seroprevalence of 48.6%.
- MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Immunoglobulin G MeSH
- Immunoglobulin M MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Antibodies, Protozoan MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Seroepidemiologic Studies MeSH
- Toxoplasma * MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis * epidemiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Iran MeSH
