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Attempted Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts in Environmental Waters Using a Simple Approach to Evaluate the Potential for Waterborne Transmission in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

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Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a health concern for wildlife and humans, particularly in island ecosystems. In the Galápagos Islands, exposure to Toxoplasma gondii has been found in marine avifauna on islands with and without domestic cats. To evaluate potential waterborne transmission of T. gondii, we attempted to use filtration and epifluorescent microscopy to detect autofluorescent T. gondii oocysts in fresh and estuarine surface water samples. T. gondii oocyst-like structures were microscopically visualized but were not confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analyses. Further research is needed to refine environmental pathogen screening techniques and to evaluate disease risk of waterborne zoonoses such as T. gondii for wildlife and humans, particularly in the Galápagos and other naive island ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Center for Avian Health in the Galápagos Islands and the Charles Darwin Foundation for sponsorship of this project. Laboratory space, permit arrangements, and field assistance were provided by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park Directorate. This study was supported by the Morris Animal Foundation and the St. Louis Zoo’s Field Research for Conservation program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Michelle L. Verant

  2. Galapagos Islands Integrated Water Studies, UPMC-Sorbonne Universités & CNRS, UMR 7619, Sisyphe, France

    Noemi d’Ozouville

  3. Charles Darwin Foundation, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador

    Noemi d’Ozouville, Patricia G. Parker & Sharon L. Deem

  4. University of Missouri–St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Patricia G. Parker & Sharon L. Deem

  5. WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Patricia G. Parker

  6. University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, One Health Institute, Davis, CA, USA

    Karen Shapiro & Elizabeth VanWormer

  7. Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Sharon L. Deem

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  1. Michelle L. Verant
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  2. Noemi d’Ozouville
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  3. Patricia G. Parker
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  4. Karen Shapiro
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  5. Elizabeth VanWormer
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  6. Sharon L. Deem
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Correspondence to Michelle L. Verant.

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Verant, M.L., d’Ozouville, N., Parker, P.G. et al. Attempted Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts in Environmental Waters Using a Simple Approach to Evaluate the Potential for Waterborne Transmission in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. EcoHealth 11, 207–214 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0888-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0888-5

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