Prevalence and genotype identification of Toxoplasma gondii in wild animals from southwestern Spain.
We used PCR to detect Toxoplasma gondii in the principal game species in southwestern Spain. We detected T. gondii in 32.2% of animals tested. Prevalences varied from 14.7% in wild boar (Sus scrofa) to 51.2% in red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The most prevalent genotype was type II (50.0%), followed by type III (20.6%) and type I (5.9%). Mixed infections (11.8%) were detected in wild boar (types I+III) and red fox (types II+III). Polymorphic strains (11.8%) were detected in several species. The high prevalence and the genetic variability shown could have implications for infection of farm animals and humans.
1 Parasitology Section, Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres, Spain.
Rafael
R
Calero-Bernal
José M
JM
Saugar
Eva
E
Frontera
Juan E
JE
Pérez-Martín
Miguel A
MA
Habela
Francisco J
FJ
Serrano
David
D
Reina
Isabel
I
Fuentes
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D005838:Genotype; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
Genotypes; PCR, PCR-RFLP; Spain; Toxoplasma gondii; wild animals