Abstract
The absence of a standardized method for detecting oocysts in water samples makes it difficult to characterize them, including in water for reuse. This study aimed to detect Toxoplasma gondii oocysts using two extraction methods. Using method 1693/2014 USEPA, 30 L of water for reuse from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, was concentrated, totaling 20 samples. The supernatant generated from the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) step was collected for detection of T. gondii oocysts. For DNA extraction, two techniques were used: the commercial kit DNeasy PowerSoil Kit® optimized with the enzyme Zymolyase® and with freeze–thaw steps. DNA quantification was performed with the target sequence of gene B1. From 16 samples submitted to enzymatic extraction, four were positive. In freeze–thaw extraction, no DNA was detected. DNA extraction was the essential step for oocyst detection given the resistant nature of their wall.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Professor João Luís Garcia, from Center for Agricultural Sciences, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina, for providing T. gondii oocyst.
Funding
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001 and by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) grant #2015/05882–7.
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Bastos, V.K., Dropa, M., Peternella, F.A.S. et al. Detection of DNA from Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in water for reuse. Parasitol Res 121, 2199–2203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07528-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07528-1