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Acute toxoplasmosis in pigs in Brazil caused by Toxoplasma gondii genotype Chinese 1

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Abstract

This study reports the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings from two cases of systemic toxoplasmosis in pigs showing apathy and dyspnea. In the post-mortem examination, severe diffuse necrotizing bronchointerstitial pneumonia with numerous intralesional tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii was observed. The lungs had not collapsed but were diffusely reddened, and the parenchyma showed friable whitish subpleural nodules with multifocal to coalescent distribution and diameters of 0.5–1.0 cm. The histopathological findings comprised mononuclear inflammation and multifocal areas of necrosis in alveolar septa (cases 1 and 2). In addition, esophagitis and ulcerations in the mucosa of the stomach and the small and large intestines were observed (case 1). Immunohistochemical analysis using anti-T. gondii antibodies on lung tissue in both cases revealed strong immunolabeling of free tachyzoites and tachyzoites in the cytoplasm of histiocytes and in cysts. Nested PCR targeting a 155-bp fragment of the B1 gene of T. gondii was positive for the DNA extracted from lung fragments from the two pigs. Genotyping of the samples by means of PCR-RFLP (10 markers) and by means of microsatellites (15 of them) revealed that these animals were infected with T. gondii that was molecularly characterized as the non-archetypal genotype Chinese 1. This presents worldwide circulation, but it had not previously been described in Brazil. The microsatellite analysis showed that the animals were infected with the same T. gondii isolate circulating in the environment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brasil). S.M. Gennari, A.F.M. Dantas, and F. Riet-Correa are in receipt of productivity scholarship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brasil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Veterinary Medicine Programme, Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Hospital, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Avenida Universitária S/N, Bairro Santa Cecília, 58708-110, Patos, PB, Brazil

    Roberio G. Olinda, Maria T. S. Frade, Jefferson S. Ferreira, Lisanka Â. Maia, Antônio F. M. Dantas & Franklin Riet-Correa

  2. Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo (USP), Avenida Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Hilda F. J. Pena, Solange M. Gennari & Solange Oliveira

  3. National Institute of Agriculture Research (INIA), La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay, CP 40.000

    Franklin Riet-Correa

Authors
  1. Roberio G. Olinda
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  2. Hilda F. J. Pena
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  3. Maria T. S. Frade
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  4. Jefferson S. Ferreira
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  5. Lisanka Â. Maia
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  6. Solange M. Gennari
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  7. Solange Oliveira
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  8. Antônio F. M. Dantas
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  9. Franklin Riet-Correa
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Correspondence to Franklin Riet-Correa.

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Olinda, R.G., Pena, H.F.J., Frade, M.T.S. et al. Acute toxoplasmosis in pigs in Brazil caused by Toxoplasma gondii genotype Chinese 1. Parasitol Res 115, 2561–2566 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4999-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4999-0

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