Toxoplasma gondii in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Romania: what is the importance for public health?

Bărburaș, Diana; Györke, Adriana; Blaga, Radu; Bărburaș, Remus; Kalmár, Zsuzsa; Vișan, Simona; Mircean, Viorica; Blaizot, Amandine; Cozma, Vasile

doi:10.1007/s00436-019-06396-6

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in water buffaloes reared in several countries across the globe ranged between 15.2% and 20.4% in south Asia, 36.2% and 48.7% in Veracruz (Mexico), and levels of 14.3% are reached in South-West Iran [27][28][29]. Recently, a study from Romania, that has the second largest population of buffaloes in Europe, after Italy, reported a total of 2.7% prevalence of T. gondii in water buffaloes [30]. Unfortunately, no updated data are available on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in water buffaloes in Italy, and the last reliable data are outdated (94.0% of seroprevalence) [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Ciucă

Borriello

Bosco

et al. 2020

Animals

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One hundred twenty-four water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) originating from 9 farms located in southern Italy were tested to investigate simultaneously, for the first time, the seroprevalence of the protozoa Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti by ELISA tests and to evaluate the clinical findings potentially associated to the presence of these aborting parasitic pathogens. Twenty-five of 124 buffaloes (20.2%) were positive for N. caninum, while 17/124 (13.7%) for T. gondii. No buffalo showed specific antibodies for B. besnoiti. Nineteen of 124 animals (15.3%) were found seropositive for both T. gondii and N. caninum. The univariate statistical analysis showed that the seroprevalence of N. caninum is significantly associated with abortion and presence of retained foetal membranes, while the seroprevalence of T. gondii is significantly associated with an increase of days open. The logistic regression models showed that the co-infection by N. caninum and T. gondii strengthened the abortive effects (OR = 7.330) and showed further negative effects on the parameter embryonic death (OR = 2.607). The outcome revealed herein represents a high exposure of N. caninum and T. gondii in water buffaloes with reproduction disorders that deserves attention for both economic reasons, animal health and welfare.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Ciucă

Borriello

Bosco

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…When the type of rearing system was evaluated, a semiintensive and extensive rearing system showed higher seropositive animals compared to the intensive system, probably associated with the greater risk of animals ingesting oocysts present in pastures and becoming infected (21,39). Differently, studies done with buffalo from Romania and Trinidad did not observe any association between rearing systems and the occurrence of antibodies anti-T. gondii in buffalo (31,46), maybe because of the climatic conditions in these countries.…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Many studies have evaluated risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in buffalo (15,31,38,39,46,47,50). A significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of buffalo from Mexico according to environmental conditions, where water buffalo raised in regions with annual rainfall between 1,266 and 1,650 mm had higher chances to be positive than those raised in regions with higher mean annual rainfall (50).…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seroprevalence was considered to be comparatively more elevated in adult buffalo when compared with calves and juveniles (46). Other studies have also described age as a risk factor for the development of T. gondii infection in buffalo, where older animals are more seropositive than their younger counterparts (15,31,39), probably due to the higher chance of older animals being exposed to the parasite as age increases.…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies have also described age as a risk factor for the development of T. gondii infection in buffalo, where older animals are more seropositive than their younger counterparts (15,31,39), probably due to the higher chance of older animals being exposed to the parasite as age increases. Most studies have not observed a significant association between the gender and seropositivity for toxoplasmosis (31,39,46,47,50); however, a higher prevalence in male buffalo from Iran was observed, but all animals were under 2 years old, the age that was statically associated with infection (38). Conversely, a significant seroprevalence higher in female buffalo from Pakistan was verified with seropositivity being related to a lower immune response during the pregnancy and lactation periods (39).…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

et al. 2020

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Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are diseases with worldwide distribution that are associated with reproductive problems in livestock and responsible for economic losses. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge relative to these diseases in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In general, buffalo are considered resistant to clinical toxoplasmosis because there are studies only reporting serological evidence of natural infection in these animals. Studies have described age, poor hygienic status of the farm, and presence of cats as risk factors for the development of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffalo. It must be highlighted that buffalo meat, which does not receive adequate freezing treatment, could be a potential source for toxoplasmic human infection as well as the importance of raw buffalo milk in the transmission of toxoplasmosis to human beings. Neospora caninum is considered one of the major causes of abortion and responsible for huge economic losses in cattle. Vertical transmission is the main route to infect calves, and is responsible for maintaining the parasite within a herd. In buffalo, vertical transmission is also described; moreover, although there are indications that N. caninum may be associated with abortion in dairy buffalo, the reproductive importance of neosporosis is apparently lower in buffalo relative to cattle. Most studies have identified a higher time of exposition to N. caninum oocysts relative to age. The household system was also described as a risk factor for infection, possibly due to persistent contact between the home-raised buffalo and canids. The fetal immune competence of buffalo is similar to bovine, and buffalo fetus are highly susceptible to infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, indicating that N. caninum may be an abortigenic agent in buffaloes. Alternatively, it is interesting to note there is evidence that the inflammatory response in pregnant buffalo infected with N. caninum is mild enough to avoid abortion in most cases. It is proposed that the possible transmission of toxoplasmosis through unprocessed milk and buffalo meat may occur, which is important in terms of public health. Additionally, there is strong evidence to suggest that N. caninum may be associated with abortion in buffalo.

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Use of PCR to determine Toxoplasma gondii in milk samples from camels (Camelus dromedarius), cattle (Bos taurus) and buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) in East Azarbaijan province, Iran

Aghdam

Hajipour

Moosavy

2022

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Background Toxoplasmosis as a zoonotic condition is developed by an intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii from the Apicomplexa phylum, which imposes economic losses on herds of animals and severe complications in immunocompromised people and pregnant women. This infectious disease can be transmitted to human beings from the contaminated unpasteurized milk, uncooked meat, water and food contaminated with sporulated oocysts and transplacental transmission. Objectives This study amid to determine T. gondii DNA in camel, buffalo and cow milks in using the PCR method based on the B1 gene. Methods A total of 100 milk samples, including 55 cows, 30 buffalos and 15 camels, were collected from different regions of north‐western using direct milking and then transferred to the Food and Aquatic Health Laboratory under refrigerated conditions. Results The results showed that out of 100 milk samples examined, 5 samples (5%) were contaminated, and T. gondii DNA was detected in the milk samples of 2 (3.63%) cows, 1 (3.33%) buffalos and 2 (13.33%) camels, respectively. Conclusions Our findings reveal that raw milk contaminated with T. gondii can be an important route of transmission of infection for human beings.

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Toxoplasma gondii in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Romania: what is the importance for public health?

Cited by 11 publications

References 26 publications

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

A Review of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Use of PCR to determine Toxoplasma gondii in milk samples from camels (Camelus dromedarius), cattle (Bos taurus) and buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) in East Azarbaijan province, Iran

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