Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária (May 2021)

Molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens reveals new genotypes in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

  • Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende,
  • Jaqueline Ataíde Silva Lima da Igreja,
  • Antônio Roberto Gomes-Júnior,
  • Jade de Oliveira Melo,
  • João Luís Garcia,
  • Felippe Danyel Cardoso Martins,
  • Heloísa Ribeiro Storchilo,
  • Taynara Cristina Gomes,
  • Marina Clare Vinaud,
  • Ana Maria de Castro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612021029
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 30, no. 2

Abstract

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Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotypic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from free-range chickens in the metropolitan area of Goiânia, Goiás, in Brazil’s central-west region. The seroprevalence rate was found to be 96%, according to an indirect hemagglutination assay. Brain and heart samples were processed by peptic digestion for a mice bioassay. The tissues were homogenized and the resulting samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which revealed that 64% of them contained the parasite's DNA. The mice bioassay revealed 15 isolates, 8 of them tachyzoites isolates from the peritoneal lavage and 7 from brain cysts. T. gondii genotypes were determined through PCR-RFLP, using the following markers: SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, alt. SAG2, Apico and CS3. Three genotypes were identified, inclued ToxoDB #65, and the other two are not yet described in the literature. Hence, we conclude that the isolates obtained from the metropolitan area of Goiânia showed relatively low genetic diversity.

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