Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária (Apr 2024)

Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seabirds collected along the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil

  • Ana Paula Sato,
  • Tiffany Christiny Emmerich da Silva,
  • Thamires Pires de Pontes,
  • Aline Luiza Konell,
  • Luiz Daniel de Barros,
  • Mary Suzan Varaschin,
  • Ivam Moreira de Oliveira Junior,
  • Adrien Wilhelm Dilger Sanches,
  • Rosangela Locatelli-Dittrich

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612024019
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 2

Abstract

Read online Read online

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two closely related protozoans that infect a wide range of animals, including birds. However, the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in tissue samples of seabirds. Tissue samples of the pectoral muscles, heart, and brain were collected from 47 birds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State, SC, Brazil. The DNA was extracted from the tissues and screened using nested-PCR (nPCR) targeting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues from seven seabirds (7/47, 14.8%), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) (5/21), and Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) (2/8). N. caninum DNA was detected in tissues of nine seabirds (9/47, 19.1%), the kelp gull (L. dominicanus) (4/21), Manx shearwater (P. puffinus) (2/8), neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) (1/4), brown booby (Sula leucogaster) (1/5), and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (1/1); however, no co-infection was observed. In conclusion, this study showed the circulation of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State. Further studies are required to clarify the role of these birds in the epidemiology of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.

Keywords