title: The use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification improves Toxoplasma gondii detection in wildlife.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is among the most widespread parasites worldwide. Wildlife is recognized as an important reservoir and source of infection of T. gondii. The goal of the present work was to assess the performance of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) as a diagnostic tool for T. gondii infection in the skeletal muscle and central nervous system (CNS) of free-ranging ungulates and carnivores. Fifty-seven wild animals were tested for the presence of T. gondii DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and LAMP. The use of LAMP amplification improved sensitivity in T. gondii molecular detection compared with conventional PCR on skeletal muscle (χ(2) = 5.8, P < 0.05), having a lower minimum detection limit (0.1 tachyzoite) than PCR (1 tachyzoite). No significant differences existed between the detection capacities of both assays when performed on CNS. LAMP is a valid tool to improve the diagnosis of T. gondii infection in wild game meat. The technique provides a sensitive yet specific method that can be applicable to both field surveys and large-scale testing of wildlife samples.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trisciuoglio
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanet
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marello
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Daniele M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nucera
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergallo
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo).
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gennero
authors.affiliation: Departments of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (Trisciuoglio, Nucera), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Sciences (Zanet, Chiesa, Ferroglio), University of Turin, Grugliasco, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy (Marello, Gennero)Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy (Bergallo) ezio.ferroglio@unito.it.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferroglio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005589:Foxes; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification; Toxoplasma gondii; polymerase chain reaction; wildlife