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.
- MeSH
- divoká zvířata parazitologie MeSH
- DNA bakterií MeSH
- nemoci ptáků parazitologie MeSH
- Neospora genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
- protilátky protozoální MeSH
- protozoální DNA genetika MeSH
- ptáci parazitologie MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- Toxoplasma genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- toxoplazmóza zvířat parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Jihoafrická republika MeSH
Toxoplasma gondii is protozoan parasite with ability of causing disease in wide-spectrum of animals; many species of animals in captivity died of clinical toxoplasmosis. The monitoring of T. gondii antibodies in zoo animals can be an important indicator of T. gondii circulation in zoo. The aim of this study was to examine sera of animals from eight Czech zoos by latex agglutination test with statistical evaluation and detect T. gondii DNA in stray cats and rodents captured in the zoos. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 33% of 1043 zoo animals without statistical difference between birds (27%, n = 74) and mammals (33%, n = 969). In birds, the chance to be infected with T. gondii was higher in Accipitriformes (71%) compared to Pelecaniformes (6%) (p < 0.0001). In mammals, the chance to be infected with T. gondii was higher in Carnivora (63%) compared to Cetarodactyla (30%), Perissodactyla (26%), Primates (28%) and Rodentia (13%) (p < 0.0001) and higher in Felidae (70%) compared to Bovidae (28%) and Equidae (28%) (p < 0.0001). Mammals with carnivore/scavenger way of feeding were in a higher risk of T. gondii infection compared to herbivores and omnivores (p < 0.0001). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissue of one stray cat while in none of 77 rodents caught in zoo. This study is the first report on toxoplasmosis in zoos from the Czech Republic including seroepidemiology and molecular detection.
- MeSH
- Carnivora krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- divoká zvířata krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- hlodavci krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- kočky MeSH
- latex fixační testy MeSH
- protilátky protozoální imunologie MeSH
- protozoální DNA krev MeSH
- ptáci krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- savci krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- Toxoplasma genetika imunologie MeSH
- toxoplazmóza zvířat krev epidemiologie imunologie MeSH
- zvířata v ZOO krev imunologie parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kočky MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika epidemiologie MeSH
Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi are important infectious agents, with T. gondii and E. cuniculi having zoonotic potential. There are two main clonal lineages (types I and II) of T. gondii in Europe, but little is known about genotypes of T. gondii in wild animals. The aim of our study was molecular detection of these three pathogens in tissues of wild red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) from the Czech Republic. Using PCR (B1 gene), we detected T. gondii in 10% of the animals that we tested ( n=100); N. caninum and E. cuniculi were not detected. The T. gondii samples were genotyped by single multiplex PCR assay with 15 microsatellite markers. Five samples were successfully genotyped as genotype II, a unique finding for T. gondii isolated from red foxes from the Czech Republic.
- MeSH
- divoká zvířata MeSH
- Encephalitozoon cuniculi genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- encephalitozoonóza epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- kokcidióza epidemiologie parazitologie veterinární MeSH
- lišky parazitologie MeSH
- Neospora genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Toxoplasma genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- toxoplazmóza zvířat epidemiologie parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Relatively little is known about protozoan parasites in African animals. Here we investigated the occurrence of protozoan parasites in mammals from South Africa. Oocysts of protozoan parasites were detected in 13 of 56 (23%) fecal samples using conventional microscopic examination methods. Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora spp. were detected in eight (14%) and five (9%) samples, respectively. Mixed parasitic infection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora spp. was recorded in banded mongoose ( Mungos mungo). Cryptosporidium spp. was detected for the first time in cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta), and African polecat ( Ictonyx striatus). Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum were not detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in any of 32 sera tested. We detected T. gondii by PCR in tissues of five of 243 (2%) animals: domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris), gerbil ( Gerbilliscus spp.), greater kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros), honey badger ( Mellivora capensis), and white-tailed mongoose ( Ichneumia albicauda). Our isolation of T. gondii from white-tailed mongoose and honey badger was a unique finding. All tissue samples were negative for N. caninum. The study increases our knowledge on the occurrence of protozoan parasites in populations of wild and domestic animals in South Africa.
- MeSH
- divoká zvířata * MeSH
- feces parazitologie MeSH
- protozoální infekce zvířat epidemiologie parazitologie MeSH
- savci * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Jihoafrická republika epidemiologie MeSH
