An alternative method to recover Toxoplasma gondii from greenery and fruits.
Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are an important form of contamination with a high dispersion in the environment, but their detection is still a challenge. This study evaluated the recovery of oocysts from strawberries and crisphead lettuce. Samples (250 g of strawberries or one head of lettuce) were experimentally inoculated with 10, 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) T. gondii oocysts, by two separate processes, spot dripping and immersion. Then, 50 g of each sample was washed, filtered through a cellulose ester membrane, and concentrated by centrifugation. Three aliquots were taken for DNA extraction in a direct way, after freeze-thaw (FT) cycles or ultrasound (US), followed by PCR (B22-B23 and Tox4-Tox5 primers). The T. gondii DNA was amplified with the primers B22-B23 in all samples contaminated by dripping and when DNA extraction was carried out after FT or US. These techniques may be useful in epidemiological surveillance in the control of this zoonosis.
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Carla Zangari
CZ
de Souza
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Katyelle
K
Rafael
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Ana Paula
AP
Sanders
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Bruna Tiaki
BT
Tiyo
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Ariella Andrade
AA
Marchioro
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Cristiane Maria
CM
Colli
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Mônica Lúcia
ML
Gomes
a Department of Basic Health Sciences , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.|b Environmental Parasitology Laboratory , State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá , Brazil.
Ana Lúcia
AL
Falavigna-Guilherme
D001938:Brazil; D016266:Food Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D031985:Fragaria / Q000469:parasitology; D005638:Fruit / Q000469:parasitology*; D018545:Lactuca / Q000469:parasitology*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000166:cytology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*
PCR; Toxoplasma gondii; membrane filtration; methods