Diagnostic and Survey Study of Toxoplasma gondii in the Soil in Mosul City-Iraq

Abstract

The present study deals to diagnose Toxoplasma gondii cysts in the soil of Mosul city, with a total of 50 samples were collected from each side of the city and three replications using flotation methods and microscopic methods. The study aims to detect contamination Toxoplasmosis oocysts, in the soil with making a comparison between the right and left side of the city and determine the effect of environmental factors such as humidity on the presence of the parasite through making a comparison between wet and dry soil samples. Molecular methods confirmed the presence of infection where the microscopic examination explained the presence of 20 positive samples out of 100 samples for both sides of the city where 11 positive cases found in the right side and 9 positive samples in the left side. The difference was clear between the wet samples with a rate of (14/48) positive samples, while the number of positive dry samples was (6/52) that confirmed infected 8 of the positive samples were subjected to a molecular examination using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, the results showed the presence of 3 positive samples for B1 gene of the Toxoplasma parasite. The study proved the presence of soil contamination with parasite oocysts, which gives a measure of the high incidence of toxoplasmosis in Mosul city and the possibility of transmitting the infection to the rest of the intermediate hosts including humans.