Scholarlink

<p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an intracellular protozoan with worldwide distribution and is of significant importance for One Health due to its zoonotic potential. Although its presence in terrestrial environments is well documented, little is known about its circulation and genetic diversity in the marine ecosystem. This study investigated the occurrence of <i>T. gondii</i> in seabirds rescued from the southern coast of Brazil, focusing on bioassay and molecular characterization. Tissue samples (the heart, brain, liver, lung, and pectoral muscle) from 76 seabirds were received. Of these, 26 were from <i>Larus dominicanus</i>, one <i>Macronectes giganteus</i>, one <i>Pachyptila vittata</i>, five <i>Phalacrocorax brasilianus</i>, two <i>Procellaria aequinoctialis</i>, two <i>Puffinus puffinus</i>, 35 <i>Spheniscus magellanicus</i>, two <i>Sterna hirundo</i>, and two <i>Sula leucogaster</i>. The samples of each bird were processed in pool for peptic digestion. The product of each digestion was inoculated (1&#xa0;mL/SC) into three mice per bioassay/bird. DNA was extracted for molecular characterization using the PCR–RFLP technique with markers <i>SAG1</i>, <i>5′-SAG2</i>, <i>3′-SAG2</i>, <i>Alt. SAG2</i>, <i>SAG3</i>, <i>BTUB</i>, <i>GRA6</i>, <i>c22-8</i>, <i>c29-2</i>, <i>L358</i>, <i>PK1</i>, and <i>Apico</i>. Brain cysts were detected in 16 bioassays. The ToxoDB #170 genotype was identified as an isolate of kelp gull (<i>Larus dominicanus</i>) while another bioassay from the same species did not match the database, suggesting a previously undescribed genotype. Infection occurred through ingestion of sporulated oocysts present in the environment or in fish, bivalves, and crustaceans, which have demonstrated parasitic bioaccumulation. This work highlights the dispersal and infection capacity of different classes of <i>T. gondii</i> hosts and the role of birds as environmental sentinels for marine contamination.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from naturally infected seabirds on the southern coast of Santa Catarina state, Brazil

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月13日

查看全文
  • Ana Paula Remor-Sebolt,
  • Felipe Rieth de Lima,
  • Francielli Maria Wilhelms,
  • Ana Carolina Cavallieri,
  • Eduardo Macagnan,
  • Gabriela Cristini de Souza,
  • Luiz Daniel de Barros,
  • Pedro Volkmer de Castilho,
  • Andreas Lazaros Chryssafidis,
  • Anderson Barbosa de Moura

摘要

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan with worldwide distribution and is of significant importance for One Health due to its zoonotic potential. Although its presence in terrestrial environments is well documented, little is known about its circulation and genetic diversity in the marine ecosystem. This study investigated the occurrence of T. gondii in seabirds rescued from the southern coast of Brazil, focusing on bioassay and molecular characterization. Tissue samples (the heart, brain, liver, lung, and pectoral muscle) from 76 seabirds were received. Of these, 26 were from Larus dominicanus, one Macronectes giganteus, one Pachyptila vittata, five Phalacrocorax brasilianus, two Procellaria aequinoctialis, two Puffinus puffinus, 35 Spheniscus magellanicus, two Sterna hirundo, and two Sula leucogaster. The samples of each bird were processed in pool for peptic digestion. The product of each digestion was inoculated (1 mL/SC) into three mice per bioassay/bird. DNA was extracted for molecular characterization using the PCR–RFLP technique with markers SAG1, 5′-SAG2, 3′-SAG2, Alt. SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico. Brain cysts were detected in 16 bioassays. The ToxoDB #170 genotype was identified as an isolate of kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) while another bioassay from the same species did not match the database, suggesting a previously undescribed genotype. Infection occurred through ingestion of sporulated oocysts present in the environment or in fish, bivalves, and crustaceans, which have demonstrated parasitic bioaccumulation. This work highlights the dispersal and infection capacity of different classes of T. gondii hosts and the role of birds as environmental sentinels for marine contamination.