RESUMEN
The objective was to characterize the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in goats experimentally infected vaginally with semen contaminated with the CPG strain (genotype III). Ten female goats were randomly allocated into 2 groups (G1 and G2), each with 5 animals, and inseminated during estrus. Goats in G1 were inseminated with semen containing 1 × 10(5) tachyzoites, whereas those in G2 (control) were inseminated with semen free from tachyzoites (insemination = day 0). In G1, seroconversion (indirect immunofluorescence reaction) and DNA (polymerase chain reaction) in the blood was present in 4/5 and 3/5, respectively, from the 7th day. In G2, all goats were negative in all tests. Embryonic reabsorption occurred in 4 of 5 goats from G1 between days 21 and 49. In conclusion, artificial vaginal insemination with semen containing tachyzoites of T. gondii -infected goats and is a potential transmission route of this parasite through semen.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de las Cabras/transmisión , Semen/parasitología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/transmisión , Animales , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre , Brasil/epidemiología , ADN Protozoario/sangre , Femenino , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Cabras , Inseminación Artificial/veterinaria , Masculino , Ratones , Embarazo , Resultado del Embarazo/veterinaria , Pruebas de Embarazo/veterinaria , Toxoplasma/clasificación , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasma/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/epidemiología , Ultrasonografía Prenatal/veterinariaRESUMEN
A study was conducted to verify the presence of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas DNA in sheep semen samples from the State of Pernambuco. The PCR assay was conducted of according with standard protocols with generic primers. Mollicutes DNA was detected in 26.0% and Ureaplasma spp. in 12.0% of semen samples.
Asunto(s)
Semen/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Infecciones por Ureaplasma/veterinaria , Ureaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Brasil , ADN Bacteriano/genética , ADN Bacteriano/aislamiento & purificación , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Prevalencia , Ovinos , Ureaplasma/genética , Infecciones por Ureaplasma/microbiologíaRESUMEN
The aim of this research was to study the contribution of Toxoplasma gondii to reproductive failure using nested PCR and histopathological examination of fetuses, stillborns and placentas. We examined 245 organs of fetuses and 28 placentas from 35 abortions and stillborns from naturally occurring miscarriages in sheep in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. At necropsy, fragments of brain, cerebellum, medulla, lung, heart, spleen, liver and placenta were taken for nested PCR and histopathological tests. Pathological examination revealed macroscopic lesions, suggesting T. gondii infection in 5/35 (14.3%) of the placentas. The histopathological examination revealed no lesions characteristic of toxoplasmosis in the organs investigated. In the five placentas, lesions consistent with toxoplasmosis were observed as an inflammatory non-suppurative infiltrate, along with multiple necrosis and mineralization. Nested PCR showed three aborted fetuses and two stillborns (14.3%) to test positive for T. gondii, with DNA amplification in all organs and the placenta, especially the heart and the placenta, which are the tissues of choice. This study substantiates the theory that T. gondii is involved in miscarriages and stillbirths and in the placentas of naturally infected sheep in Brazil. Such findings have not previously been described in the national literature.
Asunto(s)
Complicaciones Parasitarias del Embarazo/veterinaria , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/diagnóstico , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Toxoplasmosis Animal/diagnóstico , Feto Abortado/parasitología , Animales , Encéfalo/parasitología , Brasil/epidemiología , ADN Protozoario/genética , Femenino , Corazón/parasitología , Hígado/parasitología , Pulmón/parasitología , Placenta/parasitología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Embarazo , Complicaciones Parasitarias del Embarazo/diagnóstico , Complicaciones Parasitarias del Embarazo/parasitología , Reproducción , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/embriología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitología , Oveja Doméstica , Bazo/parasitología , Mortinato/veterinaria , Toxoplasma/genética , Toxoplasmosis Animal/embriología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii that affects reproductive performance in small ruminants. Although the T. gondii life cycle is well understood since 1960s, several aspects related to its infection remain unclear. In the present study we hypothesized that sheep inseminated with T. gondii-contaminated semen would develop toxoplasmosis. In order to test that hypothesis, 41 sheep were experimentally infected with semen spiked with the organism. Females were divided in three groups (G1-G3): (a) females in G1 group were inseminated with semen containing 6.5 x 10(4) tachyzoites; (b) females in G2 group with semen containing 4 x 10(7) tachyzoites; and (c) females in G3 group with tachyzoite-free semen (control group). To confirm T. gondii infection via semen, serological tests were performed using indirect immunofluorescence reaction and the detection of parasite DNA in the blood stream using the nested PCR test. While in G1 group only 5/15 (33.3%) of the females presented seroconversion, all sheep in G2 15/15 (100%) seroconverted. The nested PCR test showed that 14/15 (93.3%) of the females in the G1 and 14/15 (93.3%) in the G2 group were positive for T. gondii while in the G3 group all samples were negative. In addition, ultra-sound test evidenced that in sheep presented embryonic reabsorption in animals from the infected groups. In conclusion, insemination using fresh semen experimentally contaminated with different infectant doses of T. gondii tachyzoites was able to infect sheep, leading to the possibility of toxoplasmosis transmission via semen.