Abstract
BackgroundThe distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment. Limited information on T. gondii genotypes has been reported in wildlife in China. The objective of this study was to carry out the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.MethodsUsing PCR and multilocous polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology, we detected genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit in these regions.ResultsIn total, 183 brain tissues of different wild animals, including 48 Qinghai vole (Microtus fuscus), 101 Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and 34 Tibetan ground-tit (Pseudopodoces humilis), were tested for T. gondii infection. 11 of these were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. These positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers, including 9 nuclear loci (SAG1, 5’-and 3’-SAG2, alternative SAG2, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2), and an apicoplast locus Apico. Six were successfully genotyped at eight or more genetic loci, and were grouped to three distinct genotypes. Four samples belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10 and the other two samples were identified as two new genotypes (http://toxodb.org/toxo/).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic typing of T. gondii isolates in wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The results show that there is a potential risk for the transmission of this parasite through the wildlife in this region.
Highlights
The distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment
We have previously identified limited genotypes in T. gondii isolates from humans, cats, pigs, sheep and birds in China [19,20,21,22,23], but there is little genetic information on T. gondii isolates from wild animals in China, especially on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a region with a unique ecosystem
In the present article we describe the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Summary
The distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment. The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan that infects warm-blooded vertebrates, including birds and mammals, and one third of the world human population is chronically infected [1,2,3,4]. Intermediate hosts such as humans can be infected by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat or consuming food or. In the present article we describe the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
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