Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis spp in tissues of Sus scrofa slaughtered in southern Brazil

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the presence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora caninum, in tissues of wild boars slaughtered in southern Brazil. A total of 156 samples were collected from different organs of 25 wild boars, and DNA from at least one of the protozoa investigated was detected in 79 samples. To differentiate between infectious agents, restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed using the restriction enzymes DdeI and HpaII. For N. caninum, conventional PCR was performed with specific primers. The DNA of at least one of the studied pathogens was detected in each animal: 26.58% for T. gondii, 68.36% for Sarcocystis spp. and 5.06% for N. caninum. Coinfection between T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp. occurred in 14 animals, between T. gondii and N. caninum in only one male animal, between Sarcocystis spp. and N. caninum in a female, while co-infection with the three agents was equally observed in only one male animal. Considering the high frequency of detection and its zoonotic risk, especially T. gondii, it appears that wild boars can be potential sources of transmission of infectious agents and the adoption of monitoring measures in these populations should be prioritized.

[1]  E. Ferroglio,et al.  A Review on Alaria alata, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp. in Mammalian Game Meat Consumed in Europe: Epidemiology, Risk Management and Future Directions , 2022, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

[2]  Stephen L. Webb,et al.  Prevalence of Neospora caninum Exposure in Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) from Oklahoma with Implications of Testing Method on Detection , 2021, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

[3]  R. Stephan,et al.  Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Salmonella in Hunted Wild Boars from Two Different Regions in Switzerland , 2021, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

[4]  B. Rosenthal.  Zoonotic sarcocystis. , 2021, Research in veterinary science.

[5]  S. Elner,et al.  Ocular Toxoplasmosis after Exposure to Wild Game , 2021, Ocular immunology and inflammation.

[6]  J. L. Garcia,et al.  Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from the State of São Paulo, Brazil: Serology, molecular characterization, and hunter's perception on toxoplasmosis. , 2021, Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports.

[7]  D. Butkauskas,et al.  First molecular characterization of Sarcocystis miescheriana in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from Latvia , 2020, Parasitology Research.

[8]  R. Andreotti,et al.  Serological and molecular detection of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in human umbilical cord blood and placental tissue samples , 2020, Scientific Reports.

[9]  A. Snak,et al.  Occurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in sows and factors associated with infection in commercial herds in two regions of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil , 2020 .

[10]  D. Lindsay,et al.  Neosporosis, Toxoplasmosis, and Sarcocystosis in Ruminants: An Update. , 2020, The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice.

[11]  H. Langoni,et al.  Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild boars (Sus scrofa), hunting dogs, and hunters of Brazil , 2019, PloS one.

[12]  A. C. S. Oliveira,et al.  Antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum in backyard pigs from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. , 2019, Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria.

[13]  F. Conraths,et al.  Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact , 2019, Food and waterborne parasitology.

[14]  I. Villena,et al.  Environmental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii: Oocysts in water, soil and food , 2019, Food and waterborne parasitology.

[15]  G. Sironi,et al.  Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis miescheriana and Sarcocystis suihominis in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Italy , 2019, Parasitology Research.

[16]  L. Villa,et al.  Occurrence of selected zoonotic food-borne parasites and first molecular identification of Alaria alata in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Italy , 2018, Parasitology Research.

[17]  M. Yabsley.  Sarcocystosis of Animals and Humans , 2017, Journal of Wildlife Diseases.

[18]  H. Gamble,et al.  The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among wild boars: A systematic review and meta-analysis. , 2017, Veterinary parasitology.

[19]  Paul A. Di Salvo,et al.  Cross-species transmission potential between wild pigs, livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans: implications for disease risk management in North America , 2017, Scientific Reports.

[20]  I. Chisalita,et al.  Occurrence and first molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. in wild boars (Sus scrofa) and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) in Romania: Public health significance of the isolates. , 2017, Acta tropica.

[21]  Y. Lau,et al.  Molecular evidence of Sarcocystis nesbitti in water samples of Tioman Island, Malaysia , 2016, Parasites & Vectors.

[22]  D. Mehrabani,et al.  Human intestinal sarcocystosis in Iran: there but not seen , 2016, Parasitology Research.

[23]  V. Djokic,et al.  Factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in confined farrow-to-finish pig herds in western France: an exploratory study in 60 herds , 2016, Parasites & Vectors.

[24]  I. Villena,et al.  Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in feral swine (Sus scrofa) in the United States. , 2016, Veterinary parasitology.

[25]  J. R. C. Zanella,et al.  Zoonoses emergentes e reemergentes e sua importância para saúde e produção animal , 2016 .

[26]  I. Fuentes,et al.  Detection of Zoonotic Protozoa Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis suihominis in Wild Boars from Spain , 2016, Zoonoses and public health.

[27]  L. A. Sangioni,et al.  DNA extraction methods and multiple sampling to improve molecular diagnosis of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle hearts , 2016, Parasitology Research.

[28]  Matias Pablo Juan Szabó,et al.  Ocorrência de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum em porcos-monteiro (Sus scrofa) do Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil , 2016 .

[29]  J. Mesquita,et al.  Unraveling Sarcocystis miescheriana and Sarcocystis suihominis infections in wild boar. , 2015, Veterinary parasitology.

[30]  R. Andreotti,et al.  Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii serodiagnosis in human immunodeficiency virus carriers. , 2015, Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical.

[31]  N. Selva,et al.  From regional to global patterns in vertebrate scavenger communities subsidized by big game hunting , 2015 .

[32]  Carlos Fonseca,et al.  Wild boar populations up, numbers of hunters down? A review of trends and implications for Europe. , 2015, Pest management science.

[33]  R. Fayer,et al.  Human Infections with Sarcocystis Species , 2015, Clinical Microbiology Reviews.

[34]  V. Vilela,et al.  Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in slaughtered pigs from Northeast, Brazil. , 2014, Veterinary parasitology.

[35]  C. Poulsen,et al.  Current Status of Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Human Sarcocystosis , 2014, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[36]  S. Ballari,et al.  A review of wild boar Sus scrofa diet and factors affecting food selection in native and introduced ranges , 2014 .

[37]  C. Tan,et al.  Sarcocystis nesbitti infection in human skeletal muscle: possible transmission from snakes. , 2014, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[38]  S. Bevins,et al.  Neospora caninum Exposure in Overlapping Populations of Coyotes (Canis latrans) and Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) , 2013, Journal of wildlife diseases.

[39]  D. Tainturier,et al.  Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and its consequences for reproductive parameters in dairy cows from Dakar–Senegal, West Africa , 2010, Tropical Animal Health and Production.

[40]  G. Schares,et al.  Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in swine from Northeastern Brazil. , 2010, Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria.

[41]  Janaína Lobato,et al.  Pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em bovinos leiteiros, cães e trabalhadores rurais da região Sudoeste do Estado de Mato Grosso , 2009 .

[42]  C. Su,et al.  First identification of Sarcocystis tenella (Railliet, 1886) Moulé, 1886 (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) by PCR in naturally infected sheep from Brazil. , 2009, Veterinary parasitology.

[43]  K. Failing,et al.  Cross-sectional survey in pig breeding farms in Hesse, Germany: seroprevalence and risk factors of infections with Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis spp. and Neospora caninum in sows. , 2004, Veterinary parasitology.

[44]  N. Müller,et al.  Diagnosis of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infection by PCR and DNA hybridization immunoassay , 1996, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[45]  R. Cole,et al.  Mouse model for central nervous system Neospora caninum infections. , 1995, The Journal of parasitology.

[46]  Gazzonis,et al.  Prevalence of , 2022 .

[47]  L. A. Sangioni,et al.  Detection of Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in swine and detection of DNA of these protozoa in tissues and sausages. , 2022, Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria.

[48]  Guo-Hua Liu,et al.  First report of Neospora caninum infection in pigs in China. , 2019, Transboundary and emerging diseases.

[49]  U. Piovezan,et al.  Occurrence of antibodies against Neospora caninum in wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Ocorrência de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum em porcos-monteiro (Sus scrofa) do Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil , 2016 .

[50]  M. Galetti,et al.  Current distribution of invasive feral pigs in Brazil: economic impacts and ecological uncertainty , 2015 .

[51]  田中 俊典.  National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) , 2012 .

[52]  M VALENTINCIC,et al.  [Toxoplasma gondii]. , 1953, Zdravstveni vestnik.

[53]  What Are All Those Funny Symbols in a Blast Printout? Blast = Basic Local Alignment Search Tool , 2022 .