Outbreak of toxoplasmosis associated with muscular lesions in finishing pigs caused by an atypical Toxoplasma gondii genotype.

Toxoplasma gondii infections are usually asymptomatic in pigs, and an acute clinical disease is rare in this host. This study aimed to determine the pathological and molecular aspects of an outbreak of fatal systemic toxoplasmosis in finishing pigs in Brazil. The outbreak occurred on a commercial finishing pig farm in the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The farm had 1500 pigs and 3.8% of mortality rate during the outbreak. The pigs had fever, anorexia, apathy, and locomotor deficits. Seven pigs were necropsied. Gross findings included multifocal to coalescent pale areas in skeletal muscles, lymphadenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and non-colapsed lungs. The histological findings included granulomatous lymphadenitis, hepatitis and splenitis, necrotizing myositis, and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia. Lung and liver lesions were occasionally accompanied by T. gondii parasitic structures. Positive immunolabeling for T. gondii tachyzoites and encysted bradyzoites was detected in all examined pigs. PCR-RFLP (11 markers) and microsatellite analysis (15 markers) identified the non-archetypal genotype #278 in pigs. This is the first report of systemic toxoplasmosis in pigs with muscle lesions and additionally shows the diversity of disease-causing T. gondii genotypes circulating in animals in Brazil.

Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from a captive black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya Humboldt, 1812) in Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii was isolated in mice from different tissues of a captive black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) kept in a colony at the Primatology Center of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and it was genotypically characterized based on using PCR-RFLP and Microsatellite Analysis (MS), later on. T. gondii was successfully isolated from inocula deriving from heart, liver and tissue pool (heart, liver, lungs, axillary lymph nodes and cerebellum) samples. The isolate was named TgBgHmBrRJ1. The high virulence of the aforementioned strain was observed in infected mice. Non-archetypal genotype (ToxoDB PCR-RFLP #206) was obtained through PCR-RFLP. This genotype had been previously described in 12 isolates from different hosts, also in Southeastern Brazil, a fact that indicates likely high circulation of this genotype in this region. The isolate was also classified as non-archetypal, based on MS genotyping, as well as presented genotypic identity close to that of strains isolated from free-range non-symptomatic chickens (TgCkBr244,245,278,279) in Espírito Santo State. It is worth emphasizing that despite the large number of reports about clinical toxoplasmosis in neotropical primates in Brazil, this is just the second isolate of this parasite ever reported in this group of animals.

Outbreak of toxoplasmosis associated with muscular lesions in finishing pigs caused by an atypical Toxoplasma gondii genotype / Surto de toxoplasmose associado a lesões musculares em suínos de terminação causado por um genótipo atípico de T. gondii

Toxoplasma gondii infections are usually asymptomatic in pigs, and an acute clinical disease is rare in this host. This study aimed to determine the pathological and molecular aspects of an outbreak of fatal systemic toxoplasmosis in finishing pigs in Brazil. The outbreak occurred on a commercial finishing pig farm in the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The farm had 1500 pigs and 3.8% of mortality rate during the outbreak. The pigs had fever, anorexia, apathy, and locomotor deficits. Seven pigs were necropsied. Gross findings included multifocal to coalescent pale areas in skeletal muscles, lymphadenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and non-colapsed lungs. The histological findings included granulomatous lymphadenitis, hepatitis and splenitis, necrotizing myositis, and lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia. Lung and liver lesions were occasionally accompanied by T. gondii parasitic structures. Positive immunolabeling for T. gondii tachyzoites and encysted bradyzoites was detected in all examined pigs. PCR-RFLP (11 markers) and microsatellite analysis (15 markers) identified the non-archetypal genotype #278 in pigs. This is the first report of systemic toxoplasmosis in pigs with muscle lesions and additionally shows the diversity of disease-causing T. gondii genotypes circulating in animals in Brazil.(AU)

As infecções por Toxoplasma gondii são geralmente assintomáticas em suínos, e uma doença clínica aguda é rara nessa espécie. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar os aspectos patológicos e moleculares de um surto de toxoplasmose sistêmica fatal em suínos em terminação no Brasil. O surto ocorreu em uma granja comercial de suínos em terminação no estado de Santa Catarina, no sul do Brasil. A granja tinha 1500 suínos e a taxa de mortalidade durante o surto foi de 3,8%. Os suínos apresentaram febre, anorexia, apatia e déficits locomotores. Sete suínos foram necropsiados. Os achados macroscópicos incluíram áreas pálidas multifocais a coalescentes nos músculos esqueléticos, linfadenomegalia, hepatoesplenomegalia e pulmões não colapsados. Os achados histológicos incluíram linfadenite, hepatite, esplenite granulomatosa e miosite necrosante, assim como pneumonia intersticial linfoplasmocítica. Lesões pulmonares e hepáticas foram ocasionalmente acompanhadas por estruturas parasitárias de T. gondii. A imunomarcação positiva para taquizoítos e bradizoítos encistados de T. gondii foi observada em todos os suínos examinados. PCR-RFLP (11 marcadores) e análise de microssatélites (15 marcadores) identificaram o genótipo não arquetípico #278 em suínos. Este é o primeiro relato de toxoplasmose sistêmica em suínos com lesões musculares e, adicionalmente, demonstra a diversidade de genótipos de T. gondii causadores de doenças circulantes em animais no Brasil.(AU)