Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii in the US Swine Herd Using Sera Collected During the National Animal Health Monitoring Survey (Swine 2006)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in 1983 to collect, analyse and disseminate data on animal health, management and productivity in US domestic livestock populations, including swine. The programme includes an on‐farm serological sampling component which can be used to monitor seroprevalence of various pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in grower/finisher pigs using sera collected during NAHMS Swine 2006 and to determine farm level factors associated with differences in seroprevalence on farms where sera was collected during the Swine 2006 survey. Sera and data on management practices for this study were collected from 185 grower/finisher swine production sites located in 16 states accounting for >90% of US swine production (Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin). A total of 6238 sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA assay (Vet. Parasitol. 128 , 2005, 177). Seroprevalence in this study, as determined by ELISA, was 2.6%, with a herd prevalence of 21.6% and a mean within‐herd prevalence of 2.7%. Analysis of swine management practices indicated that rodent control methods and carcass disposal methods were associated with differences in the number of T. gondii positive samples on farm. These results are consistent with current epidemiological knowledge of the transmission of Toxoplasma on the farm (ingestion of organic matter containing oocysts, or ingestion of infected animal tissues). Production practices which eliminate these sources of exposure can reduce the risk of Toxoplasma infection in pigs, and reduce the likelihood of human infection from consumption of infected pork.     

Pathologic and immunohistochemical findings in an outbreak of systemic toxoplasmosis in a mob of red kangaroos

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan pathogen that infects many endothermic vertebrates, including humans; the domestic cat and other felids serve as the definitive host. Macropodids are considered highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis. Here, we describe the clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical findings of an outbreak of systemic toxoplasmosis in a mob of 11 red kangaroos (Macropus rufus), with high morbidity (73%) and mortality (100%) rates. Affected animals had either severe and rapidly deteriorating clinical conditions or sudden death, which was correlated with widespread necrotizing lesions in multiple organs and intralesional T. gondii organisms identified via MIC3-specific immunohistochemistry and confirmed by REP529-specific rtPCR. Quantification of parasites demonstrated the highest parasite density in pulmonary parenchyma compared with other tissues. Our study highlights the continued importance of this severe condition in Australian marsupials.     

弓形虫微线体蛋白MIC3基因的克隆及原核表达

根据编码MIC3的已知基因序列设计并合成一对引物,应用PCR技术从弓形虫RH株的基因组DNA中扩增编码MIC3的全长基因,克隆入pGEX-KG表达载体,转化入E.coli DH5α感受态细胞,经含氨苄青霉素琼脂平板筛选,小量抽提质粒进行酶切、PCR及DNA测序鉴定.然后阳性重组质粒转化入E.coli BL21-CodonPlus,IPTG诱导,表达产物经SDS-PAGE和Western-blot分析鉴定.结果显示,扩增的MIC3基因与GenBank中相应基因序列（AJ132530）的同源性达99.6 %,表达的MIC3融合蛋白表观分子量约为66 ku,且可被兔抗弓形虫免疫血清识别.说明所获得的表达蛋白质具有一定的反应原性,为下一步利用重组蛋白建立弓形虫的诊断方法和研制弓形虫的亚单位疫苗奠定了基础.     

Toxoplasma gondii antibody prevalence and isolation in free-ranging cats in Okinawa,Japan

Cats are an important host of Toxoplasma gondii from an epidemiological perspective because they are the only definitive hosts that excrete oocysts in their feces. In this study, 201 free-ranging cats in Okinawa were examined for T. gondii infection. Using the latex agglutination test, we detected antibodies against T. gondii in 26.9% (54/201) of the cats. Oocysts of T. gondii were not detected upon microscopic examination of the feces of 128 cats. T. gondii was isolated from the tissues of 9 out of 24 seropositive or pseudo-seropositive cats with a bioassay using laboratory mice. Genotyping for the GRA6 gene revealed that five and four of the isolates were type I and II, respectively.     

Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Chickens (Gallus domesticus): Prevalence,Clinical Disease,Diagnosis and Public Health Significance

Chickens are considered one of the most important hosts in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection because they are an efficient source of infection for cats that excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts and because humans may become infected with this parasite after eating undercooked infected chicken meat. The objective of this study is to review worldwide prevalence of T. gondii infection in chickens and to assess the role of infected chickens in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans. A very high prevalence of the parasite was found in chickens raised in backyards (up to 100%) and free‐range organic (30–50%) establishments.     

弓形虫基因分型研究进展

弓形虫可感染多种动物引起严重的弓形虫病,为了对不同宿主感染的弓形虫株基因型差异及不同基因型弓形虫虫株的致病力差异进行进一步研究,弓形虫基因型的分析多采用限制性片段长度多态性PCR（PCR-RFLP）、随机扩增多态性DNA、多位点PCR-RFLP分析、DNA序列分析和微卫星DNA序列分析等技术,扩增位点多选择SAG1、SAG2、SAG3、BTUB和GRA6等遗传标记。传统的弓形虫基因型主要有3个,随着基因型研究的不断深入,越来越多的基因型被发现。本文就弓形虫基因分型研究进展进行讨论分析。     

几种不同免疫程序制备抗弓形虫高免血清的比较

用弓形虫血清抗体阴性的健康家兔,以4种不同的免疫程序皮下接种弓形虫速殖子裂解抗原制备高免血清.研究结果表明,先以完全弗氏佐剂和不完全弗氏佐剂分别进行一免和二免,然后再以抗原进行三免或四免制备高免血清,其抗体效价高达1:4096(IHA),与每次都使用抗原的传统免疫程序制备的抗体效价相当,但所用抗原剂量减半,该法优于另外2种免疫程序.     

弓形虫MIC3基因真核表达质粒的构建及在 IBRS-2细胞内的表达

采用PCR技术从弓形虫RH株的基因组DNA中扩增编码MIC3的基因,克隆入pMD18-T载体,转化至E.coliDH5α感受态细胞,经抗性平板筛选、小量抽提质粒进行酶切、PCR及DNA测序鉴定后,亚克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1。然后筛选含有目的基因的重组质粒,并转染IBRS-2细胞,在G418压力下进行筛选,利用SDS-PAGE、Western blot和ELISA检测表达情况。结果显示,扩增的MIC3基因与GenBank上相应基因序列(AJ132530)的一致性达99.9%,构建的真核表达质粒pcMIC3能在转染的IBRS-2细胞中表达分子量约为39.2ku的MIC3,且表达的蛋白质具有良好的免疫活性,为进一步研究该质粒的动物免疫试验奠定了基础。     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in mainland and sub-Antarctic New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) populations

AIMS: To investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri), as a potential contributor to reproductive failure.

METHODS: Archived sera were sourced from New Zealand sea lions from two recolonising mainland populations in the Otago Peninsula (n=15) and Stewart Island (n=12), as well as a declining population at Enderby Island (n=28) in the New Zealand sub-Antarctic. Sera were tested for antibodies to T. gondii using a commercially available ELISA (with samples considered positive if the sample to positive ratio was?>30%), and latex agglutination test (LAT; with titres ≥1:32 considered positive). Western blot analysis was used to validate the results of a subset of 14 samples.

RESULTS: Five samples from sea lions in mainland locations were confirmed positive for antibodies to T. gondii. Two adult females exhibited high LAT antibody titres (min 1:2048, max 1:4096) on both occasions when sampled 1 and 2 years apart, respectively. No animals from Enderby Island were seropositive.

CONCLUSIONS: Toxoplasma gondii infection is unlikely to be a major contributor to poor reproductive success in New Zealand sea lions. However, continued surveillance is pertinent to assess subclinical and clinical impacts of the parasite on these threatened populations. The commercial tests evaluated here, with further species-specific threshold refinement could provide a fast, inexpensive and reliable indicator of T. gondii exposure in New Zealand sea lions.