Genetic Diversity of Toxoplasma gondii Isolates From Free-Range Chickens In Bahia, Brazil

J Parasitol. 2018 Aug;104(4):377-382. doi: 10.1645/18-9. Epub 2018 May 15.

Abstract

The genotyping of 25 isolates of Toxoplasma gondii from free-range chickens in the state of Bahia, Brazil, was performed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism using 11 genetic markers: SAG1, 5'+3'SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico, and CS3. The analysis revealed 8 genotypes, 3 of which had not been previously reported. Four genotypes were represented by single isolates, whereas the other genotypes were represented by 2 or more isolates. Five isolates showed mixed infections, and 2 of them were identical. None of the clonal types I, II, or III were found, but 2 isolates corresponded to the Brazilian clonal lineage BrIII. There was a single allele for the c22-8 marker. The CS3 marker demonstrated efficiency in the evaluation of virulence in mice. This study reaffirms the diverse genetic variability of T. gondii in Brazil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / veterinary
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Brazil
  • Chickens / parasitology*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Heart / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Poultry Diseases / parasitology*
  • Toxoplasma / classification
  • Toxoplasma / genetics*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers