Toxoplasma gondii in Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) antibodies and DNA detected by IFAT and PCR.
Toxoplasmosis is considered nowadays as one of the most important foodborne diseases in the world. One of the emerging risks in acquiring infection with Toxoplasma gondii is the increasing popularity of wild animals and game meat. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is the world's largest extant rodent and is used for human consumption in many areas of South America, and in case it carries T. gondii cysts, it may act as a source of infection. In the present study, we detected infection with T. gondii in capybaras from the south of Brazil. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed in the serum of capybaras using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT > or = 1:16). Blood, liver, heart, lymph nodes, and spleen tissues were collected and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B1 gene and ITS1 region. The results showed that 61.5% (16/26) capybaras were seropositive to T. gondii. Titers of specific antibodies to T. gondii ranged from 1:16 to 1:512. Among the feral rodents studied, 7.7% (2/26) were PCR positive for B1 gene assay and 11.5% (3/26) were positive for ITS1 PCR assay; for both test, the prevalence was 15.4%. Liver, heart, and blood tissues were those which tested positive for the apicomplexan. Our findings show a high percentage of infection with T. gondii in asymptomatic capybaras. Based on those data, we hypothesize that the consumption of raw or undercooked capybara meat could be a source of infection for humans.
Truppel
Jessé Henrique
JH
Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, PR, 81531-990, Brazil.
Reifur
Larissa
L
Montiani-Ferreira
Fabiano
F
Lange
Rogério Ribas
RR
de Castro Vilani
Ricardo Guilherme D'Otaviano
RG
Gennari
Solange Maria
SM
Thomaz-Soccol
Vanete
V
D000825:Animal Structures / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D015800:Protozoan Proteins
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