Detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the blood and milk of naturally infected donkeys (Equus asinus).
BACKGROUND
Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide zoonotic protozoan. Consumption of raw milk from infected animals is considered a risk factor for acquiring toxoplasmosis in humans. Recently, donkey milk has been indicated for therapeutic and nutritional purposes and T. gondii infection is common in donkeys. The purpose of the present paper was to detect the presence of parasite DNA in milk of T. gondii positive donkeys.


RESULTS
Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 11 out of 44 healthy lactating donkeys by IFAT. T. gondii DNA was detected by PCR in blood of 6 and milk of 3 seropositive jennies. Results of limited RFLP-PCR genotyping indicated the presence of T. gondii genotype II or III, commonly found in Europe.


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of T. gondii DNA in milk suggests that the consumption of raw milk from seropositive donkeys could be a potential source of human infection.
Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Viale delle Piagge, 2 56100 Pisa, Italy. francesca.mancianti@unipi.it.
Francesca
F
Mancianti
Simona
S
Nardoni
Roberto
R
Papini
Linda
L
Mugnaini
Mina
M
Martini
Iolanda
I
Altomonte
Federica
F
Salari
Carlo
C
D'Ascenzi
Jitender P
JP
Dubey
D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D005838:Genotype; D008892:Milk / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan