Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in seabirds from Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil

Gennari, Solange Maria; Niemeyer, Cláudia; Soares, Herbert Sousa; Musso, Cesar; Siqueira, Glauber C.C.; Catão‐Dias, José Luiz; Dias, Ricardo Augusto; Dubey, J. P.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.06.016

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Based on the analysis of 1014 seabirds belonging to ten species sampled in the Western Indian Ocean, we found an overall prevalence of 16.8% of seabirds carrying antibodies against T. gondii. This prevalence was higher than the one reported with the same threshold in the masked booby, the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) and the red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) sampled in the Abrolhos archipelago, the south of Bahia State (Brazil) in the Atlantic Ocean (5.8% at MAT titre � 10) [53]. If we had considered only MAT titres � 25, T. gondii prevalence would have been of 9.17% (93/1014), thus also higher than prevalence reported for other seabird species such as the Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) and the flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), both sampled in the Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador) in the Pacific Ocean (2.3% at MAT titre � 25) [54].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 55%

“…gondii . This prevalence was higher than the one reported with the same threshold in the masked booby, the brown booby ( Sula leucogaster ) and the red-billed tropicbird ( Phaethon aethereus ) sampled in the Abrolhos archipelago, the south of Bahia State (Brazil) in the Atlantic Ocean (5.8% at MAT titre ≥ 10) [ 53 ]. If we had considered only MAT titres ≥ 25, T .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…paratenic hosts) may therefore be considered as responsible for the contamination of coastal marine predators like sea otters [34,44,45], coastal dolphins foraging in Atlantic Ocean bays and Mediterranean coasts [46,47] or beluga whales and seals from the St. Lawrence stream, Canada [48,49]. Antibodies against T. gondii have also been detected far away from potential contamination sources by cats as in Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, and elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, sampled in the Antarctic Peninsula [50,51], or in pelagic dolphins [14,46], as well as in pelagic seabirds breeding on felid-free islands [52][53][54]. In all these cases, the transport of infectious oocysts by marine currents or by fish have been mentioned as the two likely routes of transmission of T. gondii to pelagic species but without evidence of the involvement of one and/or the other in the exposure of the species studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure of pelagic seabirds to Toxoplasma gondii in the Western Indian Ocean points to an open sea dispersal of this terrestrial parasite

et al. 2021

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Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that uses felids as definitive hosts and warm-blooded animals as intermediate hosts. While the dispersal of T. gondii infectious oocysts from land to coastal waters has been well documented, transmission routes to pelagic species remain puzzling. We used the modified agglutination test (MAT titre ≥ 10) to detect antibodies against T. gondii in sera collected from 1014 pelagic seabirds belonging to 10 species. Sampling was carried out on eight islands of the Western Indian Ocean: Reunion and Juan de Nova (colonized by cats), Cousin, Cousine, Aride, Bird, Europa and Tromelin islands (cat-free). Antibodies against T. gondii were found in all islands and all species but the great frigatebird. The overall seroprevalence was 16.8% [95% CI: 14.5%-19.1%] but significantly varied according to species, islands and age-classes. The low antibody levels (MAT titres = 10 or 25) detected in one shearwater and three red-footed booby chicks most likely resulted from maternal antibody transfer. In adults, exposure to soils contaminated by locally deposited oocysts may explain the detection of antibodies in both wedge-tailed shearwaters on Reunion Island and sooty terns on Juan de Nova. However, 144 adults breeding on cat-free islands also tested positive. In the Seychelles, there was a significant decrease in T. gondii prevalence associated with greater distances to cat populations for species that sometimes rest on the shore, i.e. terns and noddies. This suggests that oocysts carried by marine currents could be deposited on shore tens of kilometres from their initial deposition point and that the number of deposited oocysts decreases with distance from the nearest cat population. The consumption of fishes from the families Mullidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae and Engraulidae, previously described as T. gondii oocyst-carriers (i.e. paratenic hosts), could also explain the exposure of terns, noddies, boobies and tropicbirds to T. gondii. Our detection of antibodies against T. gondii in seabirds that fish in the high sea, have no contact with locally contaminated soils but frequent the shores and/or consume paratenic hosts supports the hypothesis of an open-sea dispersal of T. gondii oocysts by oceanic currents and/or fish.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure of pelagic seabirds to Toxoplasma gondii in the Western Indian Ocean points to an open sea dispersal of this terrestrial parasite

et al. 2021

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“…and Phaeton spp.) from Brazil (Gennari et al , 2016 b ) and in 19.9% of 659 black-headed gulls ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus ) in China (Miao et al , 2014) indicates that T. gondii infection is common in sea birds. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts from feline feces can be washed into sewage and freshwater run-off and contaminate marine waters.…”

Section: Other Wild Avian Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiologic significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in turkeys, ducks, ratites and other wild birds: 2009–2020

et al. 2020

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Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Wild and domestic avian species are important in the epidemiology of T. gondii infections because felids prey on them and excrete millions of oocysts in the environment, disseminating the infection. Herbivorous birds are also excellent sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. Toxoplasma gondii infections in birds of prey reflect infections in intermediate hosts. Humans can become infected by consuming undercooked avian tissues. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii strains isolated from turkeys, geese, ducks, ratites and avian species (excluding chickens) worldwide 2009–2020. Genetic diversity of 102 T. gondii DNA samples isolated worldwide is discussed. The role of migratory birds in dissemination of T. gondii infection is discussed.

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“…Surface water runoff tributes to coastal streams or directly to the ocean from urban and non-urban areas with no pre-treatment (Miller et al, 2002). Seabirds, including Brazilian species of orders Suliformes and Phaethontiformes, are known to be exposed to T. gondii (Gennari et al, 2016); however, their potential contribution to T. gondii transmission from land to sea environments remains unknown. From the discussion above, the ingestion of infecting oocysts or cysts from the water column or preys is the most plausible possibility in this case.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal Systemic Toxoplasmosis by a Novel Non-archetypal Toxoplasma gondii in a Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni)

et al. 2020

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Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause sporadic clinical disease and fatality in marine mammals worldwide. It has been recognized primarily in odontocetes, pinnipeds, and mustelids; however, there is very limited information available in mysticetes. We report the results of pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular genotyping analyses in a Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) with disseminated toxoplasmosis. A 10.7-mlong, adult, male Bryde's whale in poor body condition was stranded alive on August 21, 2018 in Pontal do Ipiranga, Linhares, Espirito Santo state (Brazil). The animal died shortly after stranding and was promptly autopsied. The main gross findings were diffuse axial skeletal muscle atrophy, generalized congestion, petechiation and ecchymoses, necrotizing splenitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, pneumonia, and lymphadenitis (prescapular, pulmonary, mediastinal, and mesenteric), bilateral scapulohumeral hemarthros, and severe pulmonary edema. A microscopic examination confirmed the aforementioned diagnoses, featuring a histopathologic signature characterized by multisystemic necrotizing inflammation with vasculitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombosis, and numerous intralesional protozoal cysts and extracellular tachyzoites morphologically compatible with T. gondii. The immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis targeting a repetitive 529-bp DNA fragment of T. gondii confirmed toxoplasmosis in the liver, spleen, lung, and lymph nodes. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using 11 markers identified a new nonarchetypal genotype, ToxoDB-RFLP genotype #300. Further, the genotyping by microsatellite technique employed 15 markers and confirmed a unique non-archetypal T. gondii strain, designated as PS-TgBaledBrES1. These novel results add to the diversity of this parasite in the world and to the scarce data on T. gondii genotype distribution in cetaceans, representing the first record of toxoplasmosis in a Bryde's whale and setting the baseline knowledge for future research on T. gondii genotyping research in marine mammals from South America.

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in seabirds from Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil

Cited by 20 publications

References 7 publications

Exposure of pelagic seabirds to Toxoplasma gondii in the Western Indian Ocean points to an open sea dispersal of this terrestrial parasite

Exposure of pelagic seabirds to Toxoplasma gondii in the Western Indian Ocean points to an open sea dispersal of this terrestrial parasite

Epidemiologic significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in turkeys, ducks, ratites and other wild birds: 2009–2020

Fatal Systemic Toxoplasmosis by a Novel Non-archetypal Toxoplasma gondii in a Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni)

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