Toxoplasma gondii has been found to infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. In this study, a total of 3,275 human serum samples were collected from hospitals in five provinces of China. About 5.13% (168/3,275) (95% CI, 4.42-5.94) of the serum samples tested positive for T. gondii IgG antibody by a modified agglutination test (MAT) (cut-off: 1:20). Significant associations were detected between geographic location (OR = 1.763), age (OR = 3.072), infertility in women (OR = 2.4409) and T. gondii infection in humans (p < 0.05). To minimize infection, citizens need to be informed about the best practices for toxoplasmosis prevention, including eating well-cooked meat, drinking boiled water, washing vegetables and fruits, and being careful during contact with cats.
Toxoplasma gondii
infects most warm-blooded animals, including humans. Felids can serve as both intermediate and definitive hosts for
T. gondii
. However, there is no direct evidence to prove the caracal (
Caracal caracal
) is an intermediate host for
T. gondii
. Here, we report
T. gondii
infection in two caracals in a zoo from China. Antibodies against
T. gondii
were found in both caracals by modified agglutination test (MAT) (cut-off titer: 1:25). Tissue cysts were observed in the leg and tongue muscles of caracal case
#
1. These cysts were confirmed as
T. gondii
by immunohistochemical staining and
T. gondii
was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Viable
T. gondii
strain was isolated from the striated muscles of caracal case
#
2 and designated as TgCaracalCHn1. DNA from tachyzoites obtained from cell cultures was characterized by RFLP-PCR using ten markers (
SAG1, SAG3, SAG2, BTUB, c22-8, GRA6, c29-2, PK1, L358,
and
Apico
) and the virulence genes (
ROP5
and
ROP18
). The results indicate that this isolate belongs to ToxoDB genotye #2 (Type III). The virulence of this isolate was evaluated in BALB/c mice. A dose of 10
4
TgCaracalCHn1 tachyzoites was non-lethal to mice. Tissue cysts were found in brain tissues of infected mice. This result confirmed that the TgCaracalCHn1 is non-virulent to mice. Current study documents first isolation of viable
T. gondii
strain from caracal and also indicates that caracal can act as new intermediate host for
T. gondii
.
Toxoplasmosis is a foodborne parasitic disease. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the environment are a threat to humans and animals. White spoonbills could serve as a sentinel animal for T. gondii contamination in the environment because of their food intake from soil or water. This study is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii in white spoonbills and isolate viable T. gondii from white spoonbills. In 28.6% (2/7) of white spoonbills, T. gondii antibodies were found in heart juice by the modified agglutination test (cut-off: 1:4). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues of 42.9% (3/7) white spoonbills. One viable T. gondii strain, named TgSpoonbillCHn1, was isolated from the myocardium of a white spoonbill by bioassay in mice. DNA extracted from TgSpoonbillCHn1 tachyzoites was characterized by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism with ten markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) and the virulence genes ROP5 and ROP18. The results revealed that it was ToxoDB#2 (Type III). The ROP18/ROP5 genotype combination predicts that this strain is avirulent for mice, which is supported by the infection experiments in mice. This is the first
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