title: Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sika deer (Cervus nippon) in China.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sika deer in China. During August 2014 to November 2014, a total of 450 tissue samples coming from 150 sika deer were collected to detect the T. gondii B1 gene using a nested PCR, and the positive samples were genotyped at 11 genetic markers (SAG1, 5'- and 3'-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2, and Apico) using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. Seventeen of 150 sika deer (11.33%) were tested positive by nested PCR. Six DNA samples from the 17 positive samples were completely typed, in which 4 samples from lung tissues, and 2 from muscular tissues, were identified as ToxoDB Genotype #9 (http://toxodb.org/toxo/). The results of the present study revealed the existence of T. gondii infection in sika deer in China, which provided the information of T. gondii genetic diversity in this host species. This study also indicated that ToxoDB Genotype #9 has a wide distribution in sika deer that could be potential reservoirs for T. gondii transmission, which may pose a threat to human health.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; General Station for Surveillance of Wildlife Diseases & Wildlife Borne Diseases, State Forestry Administration (SFA), Shenyang 110034, PR China.
authors.forename: Si-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Jilin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Changchun, Jilin Province 130062, PR China. Electronic address: mqfboy@163.com.
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650201, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng-Cai
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, PR China.
authors.forename: Ai-Dong
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China. Electronic address: xingquanzhu1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D003670:Deer; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000379:methods*; D009132:Muscles / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: China; Genetic characterization; Sika deer; Toxoplasma gondii