Abstract
BackgroundCats as a definitive host have an important role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii infection and isolate and identify the genotypes of T. gondii in stray cats in the Mashhad suburb.MethodsFrom April 2016 to August 2017, 175 fecal samples from stray cats and 31 brain samples from cats killed in driving accidents were collected. The fecal samples were examined by fecal flotation technique and T. gondii-specific PCR. The brain samples were investigated by T. gondii-specific PCR and consequently examined by mice bioassay. The DNA of T. gondii isolated was genotyped using SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB and GRA6 as PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) markers.ResultsIn the present study, Toxoplasma-like oocysts were microscopically observed in 2.2% (4/175) fecal samples. The presence of Toxoplasma oocysts was confirmed in one microscopy-positive sample by PCR. In addition, T. gondii DNA was detected in 4% (7/175) microscopy-negative samples using PCR. T. gondii was isolated from one brain PCR-positive sample by mice bioassay. The isolate was avirulent and many T. gondii cysts were observed in mice brain. The isolate was successfully genotyped by PCR-RLFP analysis. The isolated genotyped was type II. Besides, eight Toxoplasma-positive fecal samples contained insufficient DNA and only amplified at SAG-3 locus in PCR. These samples were also showed type II pattern at this locus.ConclusionsParasitological and molecular results showed low frequency of Toxoplasma infection in the stray cats, and identified the genotype of T. gondii isolate as type II, for the first time in Mashhad area, Khorasan Razavi Province.
Highlights
Cats as a definitive host have an important role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals
No significant statistical differences were identified between the prevalence of T. gondii infection in different age and gender groups of stray cats (Table 1) (p > 0.05)
The DNA of T. gondii was detected in 3.2% (1/31) of the brain samples and 6.8% (2/31) fecal samples of dead cats by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Summary
Cats as a definitive host have an important role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Sexual stage develops only in cat and other felids as the definitive hosts that excrete heavy walled oocysts in feces. It typically occurs in humans and other warmblooded animals as intermediated hosts tachyzoites are formed first, followed by the formation of tissue cysts. T. gondii infection is transmitted by different routes in humans and animals. Humans acquire Toxoplasma infection by eating undercooked or raw meat containing viable tissue cysts, or by direct ingesting of sporulated oocysts and or by congenital route [1, 2]. The severity of toxoplasmosis is associated with genetics and immunity of host and Toxoplasma strains [1]
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