Seroprevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in three species of pet birds in China

Abstract

BackgroundToxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common zoonosis worldwide, affecting a wide range of warm-blooded mammals and birds worldwide. However, no information on T. gondii infection in pet birds in China is available. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in pet birds in Gansu province, China.MethodsA total of 687 blood samples were collected from pet birds (Carduelis spinus, Alauda gulgula, Cocothraustes migratorlus) in three representative administrative regions in Gansu province, northwest China between August 2011 and September 2012 T. gondii antibodies were determined using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Genomic DNA was extracted from the brain tissues of seropositive pet birds and T. gondii B1 gene was amplified using a semi-nested PCR.DNA samples giving positive B1 amplification were then genetically characterized using multi-locus PCR-RFLP.ResultsThe overall T. gondii seroprevalence was 11.21% (77/687). C. spinus had the highest T. gondii seroprevalence (11.65%), followed by A. arvensis (11.39%) and C. migratorlus (5.26%), these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Of 77 DNA samples, 8 were positive for the T. gondii B1 gene, four showed complete genotyping results. Only one genotype (the Type II variant: ToxoDB genotype #3) was identified.ConclusionsThe results of the present survey indicated the presence of T. gondii infection in pet birds in Gansu province, China. These data provide base-line information for the execution of control strategies against T. gondii infection in pet birds. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the occurrence of T. gondii prevalence and genotype in pet birds in China.

Seroprevalence, risk factors and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic geese ( Anser domestica ) in tropical China

“…However, the result can only be suggestive because no T. gondii strain was isolated. The modified agglutination test (MAT) is a very sensitive and specific method for T. gondii detection in avian species [15,19]. However, IHA is also considered one of the most sensitive and specific serological methods for detecting T. gondii antibodies, which has been used extensively in many animals, including pigs, horses, donkeys, yaks, dogs, chickens [11][12][13][14]20].…”

“…Samples that reacted at dilutions of between 1:32 and 1:64 were retested, and positive and negative controls were included in each test. The brain tissues of seropositive geese were used for DNA extraction, and then genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from geese was carried out using an established multilocus PCR-RFLP method [15,16]. Six reference T. gondii strains were included as the positive controls including GT1, PTG, CTG, MAS, TgCgCa1 and TgCatBr5.…”

Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Farmed Minks (Neovison vison) in Northern China by PCR-RFLP

“…Genotype ToxoDB#3 was firstly isolated from sheep in Qinghai province [26,33]. ToxoDB#3 was also be found in cats in Yunnan province [34], pet birds and house sparrows in Gansu province [12,35], pigs in Guangdong province[36] and in wild birds in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region [35], indicating that ToxoDB#3 was also prevalent in China. More importantly, the information of T .…”

“…Limited information on T . gondii genotypes has been reported in patients, pets, food animals, poultry, birds and several species of wild animals [3,12–16]. The genotype ToxoDB#9 is predominant in different parts of China.…”

Microbiological and parasitological survey of zoonotic agents in apparently healthy feral pigeons

“…Moreover, contrasting percentages of prevalence ranging from 4% to 100% can also be found in international literature due to differences in geographical conditions, diet and lifestyle, number of cats and rodents, as well as the serological test used (Mushi et al 2001, Salant et al 2009, Karatepe et al 2011, Cong et al 2014. Considering that pigeons share the environment with humans, the serological results suggest that they could be a good model and an indicator of the extent of oocyst contamination of the ground.…”