First report of typical Brazilian Toxoplasma gondii genotypes from isolates of free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) circulating in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

This study evaluated, for the first time, the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens from the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Tissue samples from 33 chickens from properties in five municipalities of Paraíba (Esperança, Olho d'Água, Malta, Monteiro, and Patos) were bioassayed in mice. The brains of mice infected with T. gondii cysts were used for DNA extraction and genotyping. Genotyping was performed using 11 PCR-RFLP markers and 15 microsatellite (MS) markers. Complete genotyping results were obtained for 29 isolates, with nine genotypes detected by RFLP and 15 genotypes identified by MS. Three genotypes (#273, #274, and #277) have only been recently identified from pigs in the region. Brazilian clonal types BrII and BrIII were identified from one isolate each. Clonal types I, II, and III were not detected by RFLP. Genotype #13 (Caribbean 1), detected in 48.3% (14/29) of isolates from four of the five municipalities investigated, was the most prevalent genotype in the state of Paraíba. However, the MS analysis showed that of these 14 isolates, only four were unique genotypes, and considering the distance between the municipalities from where they were collected, it is possible that only seven are independent isolates while the others are clones. The other genotypes were restricted to different microregions. The results indicate that the Caribbean 1 lineage of T. gondii is circulating widely in Northeast Brazil. The genotypic diversity of T. gondii in the state of Paraíba is high, and microsatellite analysis revealed this diversity with higher resolution than PCR-RFLP.

Occurrence of Atypical and New Genotypes of Toxoplasma Gondii in Free-Range Chickens Intended for Human Consumption in Brazil

“…In our study, we had an isolation rate of 14.3%, with two isolates obtained. Previous studies with free-range chickens form Brazil have described an isolation ranging from 15.12 to 87.87% [20][21][22]. In the present study, isolates was obtained from seropositive animals; however, previous studies have described isolation of the parasite from seronegative animals, including chickens and doves [23,24].…”

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in Free-Ranging Chickens from the Caribbean

“…However, it is now known that the structure is much more diverse and atypical strains have been reported worldwide, with the majority being reported in Central and South America [35]. The majority of studies on free-roaming chickens in South America have been conducted in Brazil and have demonstrated a predominance of atypical genotypes with few clonal genotypes isolated [12, 15, 25, 37].…”

Anticorpos presentes em amostras de líquido amniótico de pacientes com alto risco de toxoplasmose congênita reconhecem diferentes marcadores antigênicos de diferentes extratos proteicos de Toxoplasma gondii

“…Cepas do tipo I, como RH, BK e VEL, são mais virulentas em humanos e camundongos, causando maior mortalidade e doenças oculares mais graves (COMMODARO et al, 2009;DUBEY, 2016;FEITOSA et al, 2017). Cepas do tipo II, como ME-49 e M3, são predominantes em isolados de pacientes com AIDS e/ou encefalite toxoplásmica.…”

“…A forma mais comum de transmissão é a ingestão de oocistos liberados nas fezes dos felinos que podem contaminar o solo, frutas e vegetais. Outras formas incluem a ingestão de cistos em carne malcozida e a transmissão vertical durante a passagem dos taquizoítos pela placenta, acarretando em sérias complicações fetais que podem levar a óbito (Figura 3) (ROBERT-GANGNEUX;DARDÉ, 2012;FEITOSA et al, 2017;SMIT et al, 2017).…”

“…O parasito possui três formas infectantes, sendo elas: oocistos, bradizoítos e taquizoítos; e seu ciclo reprodutivo apresenta fase sexuada e assexuada necessitando de um hospedeiro definitivo e um intermediário, respectivamente (KHADEMVATAN et al, 2017). Os felinos dos gêneros Felix e Lynx podem atuar como hospedeiros definitivos após contaminação por ingestão de cistos teciduais, oocistos maduros ou taquizoítos, dando início ao ciclo sexuado no epitélio intestinal desses animais (ELMORE et al, 2010;DABRITZ;FEITOSA et al, 2017). Os humanos, e outros mamíferos e aves, são hospedeiros intermediários participando do ciclo assexuado do parasito.…”