Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in wild small rodents, potentially preys of ocelots in north-eastern Mexico.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in rodents that coexist with ocelots in north-eastern Mexico. Eighty rodents of five genera were captured and their serum samples tested for specific IgG antibodies to T. gondii by in-house indirect ELISA using three different conjugates. Prevalences of 7% (3/44) and 33% (4/12) were found in Sigmodon hispidus and Liomys irroratus, respectively, and were significantly different. All Baiomys taylori and Oligoryzomys fulvescens were negative for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. The samples from Peromyscus spp. could not be analyzed because none of the three conjugates tested recognized their immunoglobulins. Infection was confirmed in one single specimen of L. irroratus by qPCR, which generated an estimate of 146 parasites per mg of muscle tissue. The results strongly support the notion of active T. gondii transmission between rodents and felines in this zone of Mexico and an important role of some rodent species in the sylvatic cycle of T. gondii.
Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico.
Emilio
E
Rendón-Franco
Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México D.F. 04530, Mexico.
Lizbeth
L
Xicoténcatl-García
Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México D.F. 04530, Mexico.
Claudia Patricia
CP
Rico-Torres
Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico.
Claudia Irais
CI
Muñoz-García
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., MSC 218, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA.
Arturo
A
Caso-Aguilar
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México 04510, Mexico.
Gerardo
G
Suzán
Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México D.F. 04530, Mexico.
Dolores
D
Correa
Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México D.F. 04530, Mexico.
Heriberto
H
Caballero-Ortega
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D045989:Felidae / Q000502:physiology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan