Dataset Information

Toxoplasma gondii in the faeces of wild felids from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a apicomplexan parasite of virtually all warm-blooded species. All true cats (Felidae) can act as definitive hosts for this parasite by shedding resistant oocysts into the environment. However, the patterns of oocysts shedding are only partially understood in domestic cats and largely unknown in wild felids.

Objectives

We carried out molecular analysis of 82 faecal samples from wild felids collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Parnaso), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods

We screened samples for T. gondii DNA using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the 529bp DNA fragment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive samples were genotyped using 15 microsatellite markers.

Results

Only one faecal sample from a Puma yagouaroundi was PCR-positive [cycle threshold (Ct) = 26.88]. This sample was contaminated by a T. gondii strain of BrIII lineage, a common lineage in domestic animals from Brazil.

Main conclusions

This first report of T. gondii in faeces of wild South American felids in their natural environment indicates infrequent oocyst shedding and suggests a role of acquired immunity in limiting re-excretion as in domestic cats. The presence of a domestic strain of T. gondii in a faecal sample from a wild felid at very low concentrations (not detected by microscopy) is consistent with the hypothesis of host-parasite co-adaptations limiting the circulation of T. gondii strains between domestic and wild environments.

SUBMITTER: Bolais PF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9241165 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Toxoplasma gondii in the faeces of wild felids from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Bolais Paula F PF Galal Lokman L Cronemberger Cecília C Pereira Fabiane de Aguiar FA Barbosa Alynne da Silva ADS Dib Laís Verdan LV Amendoeira Maria Regina Reis MRR Dardé Marie-Laure ML Mercier Aurélien A

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 20220627

<h4>Background</h4>Toxoplasma gondii is a apicomplexan parasite of virtually all warm-blooded species. All true cats (Felidae) can act as definitive hosts for this parasite by shedding resistant oocysts into the environment. However, the patterns of oocysts shedding are only partially understood in domestic cats and largely unknown in wild felids.<h4>Objectives</h4>We carried out molecular analysis of 82 faecal samples from wild felids collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Parnaso), R ...[more]

PMID: 35766781

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Dataset Information

Toxoplasma gondii in the faeces of wild felids from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Main conclusions

Publications

Toxoplasma gondii in the faeces of wild felids from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Similar Datasets

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