Predilection sites for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep tissues revealed by magnetic capture and real-time PCR detection.
Undercooked lamb and mutton are common sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection for humans. A sequence specific magnetic capture technique in combination with quantitative real-time PCR targeting the 529 bp repeat element of T. gondii was used for estimation of the parasite burdens in various sheep tissues (n = 6) three months after peroral experimental inoculation with 10,000 T. gondii oocysts. Brain was the most frequently affected organ (positive in all 6 sheep) and showed the highest estimated parasite loads (0.5-30,913 parasites/g tissue). Lung samples were positive in three sheep, with load estimates of 36.3 to <1 parasite/g tissue. Heart tissue was positive in three sheep and kidney only in one animal with low parasite loads (<1 parasite/g tissue). Only few skeletal muscle samples in 2 animals showed positive results, with very low parasite burdens, while samples from further internal organs (i.e. liver and spleen) were negative in all animals. This study identified the brain as the most important predilection site and therefore the most appropriate tissue for T. gondii detection.
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: yanniska@seznam.cz.
Jana
J
Juránková
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Walter
W
Basso
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Helena
H
Neumayerová
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Anita
A
Frencová
Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Vojtech
V
Baláž
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Peter
P
Deplazes
Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
Břetislav
B
Koudela
D000825:Animal Structures / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D008280:Magnetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012756:Sheep; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*
Magnetic capture; Real-time PCR; Sheep; Toxoplasma gondii