Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Wisconsin identified several atypical genotypes.
During 2005-2006, sera and tissues from raccoons (Procyon lotor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and skunks (Mephitis mephitis) from the state of Wisconsin were tested for Toxoplasma gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 32 of 54 (59.2%) raccoons, 18 of 35 (51.4%) coyotes, and 5 of 7 (71.4%) skunks using the modified agglutination test and a cut-off titer of 1:20. Pooled tissues (brains, hearts, and tongues) from 30 raccoons, 15 coyotes, and 1 skunk were bioassayed for T. gondii infection in mice or cats. Viable T. gondii was isolated from 5 of 30 (16.7%) raccoons, 6 of 15 (40.0%) coyotes, and the skunk. Genetic characterization of the 12 parasite isolates by multilocus PCR-RFLP markers revealed 6 different genotypes including 5 atypical and I archetypal II lineages. The results indicate the prevalence of T. gondii in wildlife mammals is high and that these animals may serve as an important reservoir for transmission of T. gondii.
Dubey
J P
JP
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. jitender.dubey@ars.usda.gov
Sundar
N
N
Nolden
C A
CA
Samuel
M D
MD
Velmurugan
G V
GV
Bandini
L A
LA
Kwok
O C H
OC
Bodenstein
B
B
Su
C
C
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D002415:Cats; D046029:Coyotes / Q000469:parasitology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011821:Raccoons / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers