Abstract
This study aimed to genetically characterize Toxoplasma gondii isolates obtained from free-range chickens reared in the metropolitan region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to evaluate the morbidity and histological changes associated with these isolates in mice. A mouse bioassay was used to isolate T. gondii from a pool of tissue samples (brain, heart, and thigh muscles) collected from 163 chickens. The 36 isolates obtained were genetically characterized by restriction fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the SAG1, 5′-3′SAG2, aSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico, and CS3 genomic regions. Seventeen atypical genotypes were identified and nine of them were reported for the first time. All identified genotypes caused clinical signs and histological changes in mice, with the majority being associated with high cumulative morbidity (65%) and severe or very severe histological changes (76%). The exclusive identification of atypical genotypes, with a predominance of new genotypes, indicates great genetic diversity of T. gondii in the region studied. In addition, the finding that all identified genotypes caused clinical signs and often severe histological changes in mice suggests potentially relevant virulence of these strains.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Eloíza P. F. Trindade, Maíra C.H. Cavalcanti, Regiane T. Vicente, and Luiz C.S. Abboud for technical support; Ricardo Baptista Schmidt from the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Fiocruz, for processing the figure; and Dr. Maria de Fátima Madeira and the team of the Laboratory for Leishmaniasis Surveillance (Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases) for their collaboration with the study.
Funding
The study was supported by the Carlos Chagas Filho Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) (Grants: APQ1 E-26/110.937/2009, APQ1 E-26/111.977/2012, TCT E-26/102.303/2011, and JCNE E-26/102.247/2013), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Brazil (Finance Code 001), and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Grant MCT/CNPq 10/2010–AT-NM). RCM and HL have a research productivity fellowship from CNPq.
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Casartelli-Alves, L., Pereira, S.A., Ferreira, L.C. et al. Genetic and histopathological characterization of Toxoplasma gondii genotypes isolated from free-range chickens reared in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Parasitol Res 120, 665–677 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-07011-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-07011-9