Development of an in vivo model for Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens and turkeys simulating natural routes of infection

Geuthner, Anne-Catrin; Koethe, Martin; Ludewig, Martina; Pott, Susan; Schares, Gereon; Maksimov, Pavlo; Daugschies, Arwid; Bangoura, Berit

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.108956

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For the molecular detection and isolation of T. gondii DNA, only heart tissue was used in our study. Several studies have confirmed that the heart is the preferred tissue allowing the detection of viable T. gondii stages (Schares et al 2018;Dubey et al 2020), which is in line with studies indicating a long-term T. gondii DNA persistence in the heart muscle (Geuthner et al 2014(Geuthner et al , 2019. Schares et al (2018) found that slightly fewer samples were positive if tested by mc-PCR compared to bioassay.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp.

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of public health importance, infecting all warm-blooded animals, including chickens. Undercooked chicken meat or relevant products such as sausages could lead to human infections. In free-range, organic and slow-growth farming systems where the susceptibility period for chickens is extended, more knowledge about potential risk factors is essential. This study is the first seroepidemiological survey in different regions and types of chicken farms in Greece, using a major tachyzoite surface antigen-based ELISA (TgSAG1), combined with magnetic-capture PCR (mc-PCR) and bioassay for the isolation of strains from the chickens’ tissues. Potential risk factors for T. gondii infection in these hosts were also investigated. Additionally, the co-existence of T. gondii and Eimeria spp. infections was assessed to elucidate epidemiological links between these two protozoan infections. Overall T. gondii seroprevalence was 9.5%. Of the backyard chickens sampled, 41.2% were seropositive and 70% of the organic and free-range layer farms had at least one T. gondii seropositive hen. No serologically positive broilers were found, although mc-PCR revealed a positive sample, highlighting the importance of accurate early-infection direct detection of T. gondii infections to ensure public health. T. gondii isolates obtained by mouse bioassay were genotyped. All belonged to type II (ToxoDB#3) as confirmed also by microsatellite typing. Production system, type of nutrition, and feeding system automation were identified as the most significant risk factors, while no association was found between the presence of cats and T. gondii seropositivity as calculated on both a farm level and per individual bird sampled.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp.

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Toxoplasma gondii DNA was extracted from several tissues of these chickens; the heart and lungs were more consistently infected (Yan et al, 2010). Valuable serological diagnostic information was obtained from chickens orally inoculated with different strains of T. gondii oocysts (Hotop et al, 2014;Geuthner et al, 2019). Unusual and inconsistent results were obtained by ELISA using recombinant proteins: by rGRA1-and rGRA9-based ELISA, high levels of antibodies were detected only between days 7 and 10 p.i., dropped to undetectable levels and mildly increased between 42 and 63 days p.i.…”

Section: Clinical and Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Hotop et al ., 2014). Seroconversion and the rate of parasitization varied among chickens inoculated with different strains (Geuthner et al ., 2019). Antibody titers as high as 1: 512 000 were detected in chickens by IFA.…”

Section: Experimental Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Epidemiologic significance ofToxoplasma gondiiinfections in chickens (Gallus domesticus): the past decade

Dubey¹,

Pena²,

Cerqueira‐Cézar³

et al. 2020

Parasitology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Domestic free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. Chickens can be easily infected with T. gondii; however, clinical toxoplasmosis is rare in these hosts. Chickens are comparatively inexpensive and thus are good sentinel animals for T. gondii infections on the farms. Here, the authors reviewed prevalence, the persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii strains isolated from chickens worldwide for the past decade. Data on phenotypic and molecular characteristics of 794 viable T. gondii strains from chickens are discussed, including new data on T. gondii isolates from chickens in Brazil. This paper will be of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians and parasitologists.

show abstract

“…Among a variety of hosts, free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) act as sentinels of environmental contamination by T. gondii, since the oocysts released in feline feces are highly resistant to the environment and can be ingested by birds through direct contact as they scratch the soil in search of food (Dubey, 2010;Rodrigues et al, 2019). For this reason, chickens are often used in research in order to isolate the parasite for epidemiological and genetic studies (Alizadeh-Sarabi et al, 2020;Fernandes et al, 2016;Geuthner et al, 2019;Khan et al, 2020;Mahami-Oskouei et al, 2017). Thus, genotyping studies of T. gondii isolates in free-range chickens have been conducted all over the world and have contributed to the expansion of available epidemiological information on the genetic diversity of this parasite (Moré et al, 2012;Tilahun et al, 2013;Rodrigues et al, 2019;Camillo et al, 2020;Zrelli et al, 2022;Ali Awad et al, 2023) Studies have shown a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in birds in Brazil's south (Camillo et al, 2015) and southeast regions (Lopes et al, 2016), suggesting high environmental contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular characterization and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens in the southwest region of Goiás: new genotypes

Domann,

Rezende,

Fleury

et al. 2023

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this study was to isolate Toxoplasma gondii from tissues of free-range chickens in the southwestern region of Goiás, to detect and molecularly characterize the genetic material of the parasite, and to determine the seroprevalence of the protozoan parasite in these animals. A seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies of 76% (19/25) was found among the chickens, while genetic material from their tissues was detected in 56% (14/25). A total of 14 isolates was obtained in the bioassay, ten of which were considered acute, eight were considered isolates of high virulence lethal to mice, and four of low virulence, considered non-lethal but with the ability to chronify the infection. Seven of the ten isolates showed significant morphometric differences from the RH strain, in terms of nucleus-complex-apical distance, length and width. Genotyping of the acute isolates was performed by RFLP-PCR, using 11 genetic markers: SAG1, SAG2 (3’SAG2 and 5’SAG2), alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and APICO. The results were compared and classified according to the genotypes listed on the ToxoDB Platform, where different profiles were observed indicating the presence of two known genotypes (#7 and #63) and five new genotypes (NEW 3, NEW4, NEW5, NEW6, NEW 7). The results showed high seroprevalence, isolation rate, molecular detection and genotypic variations of T. gondii in free-range chickens in the southwestern region of Goiás.

show abstract

Development of an in vivo model for Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens and turkeys simulating natural routes of infection

Cited by 11 publications

References 57 publications

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp.

Epidemiologic significance ofToxoplasma gondiiinfections in chickens (Gallus domesticus): the past decade

Molecular characterization and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens in the southwest region of Goiás: new genotypes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About