First isolation and genetic characterization of a<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>strain from a symptomatic human case of congenital toxoplasmosis in Romania

Costache, Carmen; Colosi, Horațiu Alexandru; Blaga, Ligia; Györke, Adriana; Paştiu, Anamaria Ioana; Colosi, Ioana Alina; Ajzenberg, Daniel

doi:10.1051/parasite/2013011

Cited by 19 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…New information regarding the T. gondii strains present in backyard pigs in Romania are provided, which also helps complete the scarce data regarding T. gondii genotypic diversity in eastern Europe. To date, in Romania, previous studies have shown the presence of type II isolates obtained from humans [46] and goat-kids [21]. Further studies are required to develop a more complete picture of the T. gondii genotypes present in various species of domestic and wild animals in Romania.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected backyard pigs intended for familial consumption in Romania

et al. 2019

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BackgroundFoodborne toxoplasmosis in humans can be due to the exposure to tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii through the consumption of meat, including pork, of infected animals. Traditional Romanian food habits include pork as the preferred meat, while backyard pig rearing remains a common practice in many rural areas of Romania. The aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in naturally infected backyard pigs slaughtered for familial consumption and to genetically characterize the T. gondii strains obtained.MethodsPaired blood and heart samples were collected from 94 backyard pigs, home slaughtered for private consumption. Serum samples were analyzed using the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for anti-T. gondii antibody detection. Heart samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 529-bp repeat region (REP529) for T. gondii detection. In addition, heart samples from IFAT positive animals were bioassayed in mice. The T. gondii isolates were genotyped by the analysis of 15 microsatellite markers.ResultsThe results showed that almost half of the pigs investigated were T. gondii seropositive (46.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 36.4–57.4%) and in more than a quarter of the pigs (26.6%, 95% CI: 18.0–36.7%), the parasite was detected by PCR. Three (3/44) T. gondii strains were isolated from hearts of seropositive pigs and they all belonged to genotype II.ConclusionsThe present study showed the presence of T. gondii infection in backyard pigs in Romania, which suggests that consumption of pork from animals reared and slaughtered at home may pose a potential threat to human health and should be given attention. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first study to provide data concerning T. gondii strains circulating in pigs from Romania.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected backyard pigs intended for familial consumption in Romania

et al. 2019

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“…Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 104 (51·4%) of 202 domestic dogs by Elias (1966), and in 14 (25·0%) of 56 of stray dogs from Cluj-Napoca by Cozma et al (2007) using 1:100 serum dilution in the IFAT. Elias (1966) found dye test antibodies in 834 (45·3%) of 1840 rabbits, 21 (26·2%) of 80 hamsters and 3 (10·3%) of 29 rats.…”

Section: Miscellaneous Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Costache et al . (2013) isolated viable T. gondii from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a 32-week gestational age girl born prematurely but naturally to a mother who had serological evidence of recently acquired T. gondii infection during pregnancy (the mother seroconverted between 2 and 6 months of gestation). The girl had gross evidence of hydrocephalus and microphthalmia of the left eye.…”

Section: Toxoplasmosis In Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological review of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Romania

et al. 2013

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Infections by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in humans and other animals worldwide. However, information from eastern European countries is sketchy. In many eastern European countries, including Romania, it has been assumed that chronic T. gondii infection is a common cause of infertility and abortion. For this reason, many women in Romania with these problems were needlessly tested for T. gondii infection. Most papers on toxoplasmosis in Romania were published in Romanian in local journals and often not available to scientists in other countries. Currently, the rate of congenital infection in Romania is largely unknown. In addition, there is little information on genetic characteristics of T. gondii or prevalence in animals and humans in Romania. In the present paper we review prevalence, clinical spectrum and epidemiology of T. gondii in humans and animals in Romania. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians and physicians.

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“…Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan parasite found worldwide that potentially infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals, birds, and humans [9, 19, 39]. Sheep are an important intermediate host of T. gondii [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection and risk factors in domestic sheep in Henan province, central China

Zhang¹,

Wang²,

Wang³

et al. 2016

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Sheep are highly susceptible to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and play a major role in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans. In the present study, 779 serum samples from sheep were collected from Henan province, central China from March 2015 to May 2016, and antibodies to T. gondii were detected by modified agglutination test (MAT). The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep was 12.71% (99/779). The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were the geographical origin, age, presence of cats, and the rearing system. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in sheep in Henan province, central China, and of an association of seropositivity to T. gondii with risk factors.

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First isolation and genetic characterization of aToxoplasma gondiistrain from a symptomatic human case of congenital toxoplasmosis in Romania

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected backyard pigs intended for familial consumption in Romania

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected backyard pigs intended for familial consumption in Romania

Epidemiological review of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Romania

Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiinfection and risk factors in domestic sheep in Henan province, central China

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