ABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Brazil have a different phenotypic and genotypic pattern, with predominance of virulent isolates and recombinant genotypes, compared to the North Hemisphere. Considering that a new T. gondii genotype, non-pathogenic to mice, was previously identified from free-range chickens from the Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil, this study aimed to identify genotypes of this parasite in tissue samples of feral cats (Felis catus) from this Brazilian Island. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 18/31 (58%) feral cats. Two non-virulent T. gondii isolates were obtained by mouse bioassay. Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP using 10 genetic markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, PK1, L358 and Apico) and an atypical strain of T. gondii (ToxoDB #146) was identified. This is the first report of this genotype in feral cats.
Subject(s)
Toxoplasma/genetics , Toxoplasma/pathogenicity , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Brazil , Cats , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Genetic Markers/genetics , Genotype , Islands , Mice , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Toxoplasma/isolation & purification , Virulence/geneticsABSTRACT
Paracoccidioidin and histoplasmin intradermic tests were performed in 107 inhabitants in Arapiraca, Alagoas. The epidemiological survey was performed in both sexes and the ages varied from 2 to 71 years. Positive results with paracoccidioidin test were recorded in 11% and the histoplasmin test was positive in 14%. With the positivity of paracoccidioidin in the histoplasmin positive population the result shows a percentage of 33.33%, while with the positivity of histoplasmin in the paracoccidioidin positive population was 41%.
