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Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains from different hosts in Iran

Parasitology Research volume 101, pages 111–115 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent protozoan parasites in Iran. This study was aimed to isolate T. gondii from a variety of hosts and to genetically analyze the parasite isolates. The prevalence of T. gondii in different animal hosts was assessed in two provinces of Iran, Tehran and Mazandaran in the central and northern parts, respectively. The latex agglutination (LA) test was carried out, and antibodies were found in 24 out of 105 sheep, 5 out of 35 goats, 23 out of 45 free-ranging chickens (Gallus domesticus), 2 out of 13 ducks (Anas spp.), and two of four stray cats (Felis domesticus). T. gondii was isolated by bioassay in mice from four sheep, six chickens, one duck, two cats, and three human samples. Genotyping of these 16 isolates was performed using Multiplex PCR for five microsatellite markers and GRA6 gene sequence analysis. The results indicated that the studied isolates consisted of only two genotypes, II and III, with no evidence of type 1 or mixed genotypes.

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Acknowledgment

We are indebted to N. Mohajeri, Z. Garoosi, and E. Gholami for their technical assistance. Our thanks are due to the head and staff of the Babol Health Research Station affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences for their kind cooperation. We are grateful to Dr. J.P. Dubey (USDA) for the critical review and helpful discussion.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 444, Kerman, Iran

    N. Zia-Ali

  2. Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    A. Fazaeli

  3. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box 14155, Tehran, 6446, Iran

    M. Khoramizadeh & H. Keshavarz-Valian

  4. Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, EA3174, Faculte de Médecine, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, 87031, Limoges, France

    D. Ajzenberg & M. Dardé

Authors
  1. N. Zia-Ali
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  2. A. Fazaeli
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  3. M. Khoramizadeh
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  4. D. Ajzenberg
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  5. M. Dardé
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  6. H. Keshavarz-Valian
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Keshavarz-Valian.

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Zia-Ali, N., Fazaeli, A., Khoramizadeh, M. et al. Isolation and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains from different hosts in Iran. Parasitol Res 101, 111–115 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0461-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0461-7

Keywords

  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Tissue Cyst
  • GRA6 Gene
  • Mazandaran Province
  • Mixed Genotype