First identified Toxoplasma gondii Type I in market-sold ducks in Fujian province, China: a significant for public health.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular protozoan that can cause toxoplasmosis in all warm-blooded hosts. This study focused on the prevalence and genetic characterize of T. gondii in ducks from Fujian province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from duck tissue samples (heart, liver, lung, and muscle). To assess the genetic diversity of the T. gondii isolates, it was determined by using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. A total of 586 ducks from 5 cities in Fujian province were tested, and 35 (6.0%) of which were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene. Further genotyping of these positive samples at 10 genetic markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) using PCR-RFLP revealed that one tissue samples (heart samples from Fuzhou ducks) were identified as Type I (ToxoDB#10). This study is the first report on the prevalence and genetic characterization of T. gondii in ducks in Fujian province, and Type I (ToxoDB#10) is found in ducks in China for the first time. The findings document the genetic characterization of T. gondii in free-range ducks from Fujian Province, thereby enriching the understanding of T. gondii genetic diversity in China. Moreover, these results provide essential data support for further prospective studies and underscores the "One Health" concept, emphasizing the integral link among human, animal, and environmental health.

First Molecular Detection and Genotype Identification of Toxoplasma gondii in Chickens from Farmers' Markets in Fujian Province, Southeastern China.

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogenic protozoan that can infect all nucleated cells in almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. T. gondii infection has been reported in many food animals worldwide. However, the prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii in chickens from farmers' markets in Fujian province in southeastern China remain unreported. In the present study, four tissue samples from each of the 577 chickens (namely, the heart, liver, lungs, and muscles) were collected from farmers' markets in five regions of Fujian province (Zhangzhou, Sanming, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, and Longyan). We first analyzed the prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii using PCR targeting of the B1 gene of T. gondii. Of the 577 chickens, thirty-two (5.5%) tested positive for the B1 gene. Among the five regions, Sanming had the highest infection rate (16.8%, 16/95), followed by Quanzhou (8.0%, 8/100), Longyan (5.0%, 5/100), Zhangzhou (1.1%, 2/182), and Fuzhou (1.0%, 1/100). Among these thirty-two T. gondii-positive chickens, the infection rates of the lungs, heart, liver, and muscles were 68.8% (22/32), 34.4% (11/32), 28.1% (9/32), and 9.4% (3/32), respectively. Significant differences in prevalence were found among the different regions (χ2 = 35.164, p < 0.05) and tissues (χ2 = 25.874, p < 0.05). A total of 128 tissue and organ samples of the thirty-two T. gondii-positive chickens from the different regions were analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on the basis of 10 genetic markers. Seven tissue samples (lung samples from five chickens, heart samples from one chicken, and liver samples from one chicken) underwent successful amplification at all the genetic markers, and all the T. gondii genotypes were identified as genotype I (ToxoDB #10). These findings serve as a foundation for evaluating the risk of T. gondii contamination in chicken products intended for human consumption and offer insight into preventing the transmission of the parasite from chickens to humans.

Molecular Detection and Multilocus Genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in Pigs in Fujian Province, Southeastern China.

Giardia duodenalis, an intestinal parasite, is widely distributed in humans and various animals, such as pigs, cattle and cats. The clinical symptoms of giardiasis are characterized as including abdominal pain, acute or chronic diarrhea, and bloating and weight loss in humans and animals, leading to public and veterinary health problems worldwide. However, the prevalence and genotypes of G. duodenalis in pigs in Fujian Province, southeastern China, have not been reported. In the present study, 725 fecal samples were collected from six cities (Fuqing, Putian, Nanping, Longyan, Sanming, Zhangzhou) in Fujian Province and analyzed for G. duodenalis prevalence and genotypes using nested PCR targeting the beta-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. The results shown that total occurrence rate of G. duodenalis was 26.9% (195/725) in pigs, with significant differences in the prevalence among different regions (χ2 = 86.508, p < 0.05) and groups (χ2 = 12.748, p < 0.05). 195, 11 and 6 samples were detected at the bg, tpi and gdh loci, respectively. Each one belonged to a subtype of assemblage E and was analyzed using sequences obtained in this study. Based on phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the three genetic loci, only one MLG E1 was found. The results indicated that pigs may present a potential zoonotic risk of spreading G. duodenalis infection from animals to humans in this area. The findings of the present study also provide basic data for the prevention and control of G. duodenalis infection in pigs and humans in China.