RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to estimate the molecular prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and the co-infection by both Apicomplexan parasites in uterus tissues of cows. PCR was used to detect T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in uterus from 140 uteri of slaughtered cows in the regional slaughterhouse of Béja (Northwest Tunisia). Positive PCR products were sequenced and used for the phylogenetic analysis. The overall molecular prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in cows' uterus was 5 and 15.57%, respectively. Co-infection prevalence by the two parasites was estimated to be 2.85%. Risk factors including the age categories significantly affected the molecular prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in cows' uterus. The highest molecular prevalence of T. gondii (11.5 ± 3.1) and N. caninum (21.1 ± 11.1; p = 0.038) was observed in cows aged of more than 8 years. There were no differences depicted according to cow's breeds and localities. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 100% similarity among our N. caninum sequence (MW136256) and those deposited in GenBank. The T. gondii sequence described in this study (MW260335) was 99.4-100% homologous to T. gondii sequences published in the GenBank.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular evidence of N. caninum and T. gondii co-infection in naturally infected cows in North Africa. This information is pertinent in designing control programmes that would reduce economic losses in the livestock industry.
Asunto(s)
Coccidiosis , Coinfección , Neospora , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis Animal , Animales , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios , Bovinos , Coccidiosis/epidemiología , Coccidiosis/veterinaria , Coinfección/epidemiología , Coinfección/veterinaria , Femenino , Genitales , Neospora/genética , Filogenia , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasmosis Animal/epidemiología , Túnez/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite from the phylum Apicomplexa, mainly associated with abortions and causing enormous economic losses. We aimed, by the present study, to estimate the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic analyses of natural infection with N. caninum in Tunisian goats. A total number of 121 meat samples were collected from slaughtered goats in the regional slaughterhouse of Béja (Northwest Tunisia) and tested from N. caninum ITS1 gene using PCR followed by sequencing of PCR products. Phylogenetic analyses were used to identify this parasite infecting goats in Nortwest Tunisia. The overall molecular prevalence was 19% (23/121). The highest molecular prevalence of N. caninum was observed in goats aged between 2 and 4 years (31.9 ± 13.27%) (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the overall molecular prevalence of N. caninum according to both localities and animal breeds. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 99-100% similarity with GenBank sequences. A high similarity with all the blasted genotypes was reported for N. caninum sequences. This is the first molecular study and genetic characterisation of N. caninum in North African goats.
Asunto(s)
Coccidiosis/veterinaria , ADN Protozoario/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Neospora/clasificación , Filogenia , Animales , Coccidiosis/epidemiología , Coccidiosis/parasitología , ADN Protozoario/química , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Cabras , Carne/parasitología , Músculos del Cuello/parasitología , Neospora/genética , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Prevalencia , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN/veterinaria , Túnez/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The present study aimed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii infection in meat from slaughtered sheep, goats and cattle in Northwest Tunisia (Béja district). PCRs were performed on genomic DNA extracted from 420 meat samples (150 ewes, 120 goats and 150 cows). The overall molecular prevalence of T. gondii in sheep, goats and cattle were 33.3 (50/150), 32.5 (39/120) and 19.3% (29/150), respectively. Toxoplasma gondii molecular prevalences in the three meat ruminant species were significantly higher in adults compared to young animals (p<0.001). The infection prevalence differed significantly within localities in sheep (p<0.001), goats (p<0.001) and cattle (p=0.019). These results provide important information about exposure of humans to T. gondii through the consumption of raw or undercooked ruminants' meat. Extension programmes should be implemented to decrease the risk of infection related to sheep, goats and cattle meat manipulation and raw or undercooked meat consumption.
Asunto(s)
Carne/parasitología , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Toxoplasmosis Animal/epidemiología , Animales , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , ADN Protozoario , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Cabras , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Prevalencia , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitología , Toxoplasma/genética , Túnez/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Sarcocystis spp. is one of the most prevalent foodborne parasites infecting both animals and humans. Consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat is a risk factor of human intestinal sarcocystosis. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Sarcocystis species infecting slaughtered Tunisian cattle in North-West Tunisia (Béja governorate). DNA was extracted from 150 beef meat samples and a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for identification. The overall infection prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. was 38% (57/150). Two species were identified, namely S. hominis (25%; 39/150) and S. cruzi (12%; 18/150). For both species, the highest prevalence was in Thibar locality (52.9 and 17.6% for S. hominis and S. cruzi, respectively). The molecular prevalence of S. cruzi was significantly higher in animals aged between two and eight years (19.2%; 10/52). This is the first molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in Tunisian cattle. Further studies in both human and animal Tunisian populations are needed to rank this parasitic disease among others.