Circulating genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in Northwestern Italy

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that in Europe is genetically characterized by three main clonal genotypes, with a lesser prevalence of atypical patterns. Data on the genotypes of T. gondii circulating both in wildlife and livestock in Northern Italy are scarce. In the present study skeletal muscle samples of cattle (Bos taurus), swine (Sus scrofa domesticus), fox (Vulpes vulpes), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) were genotyped by using a nested PCR of 6 loci (alt.SAG2, GRA6, 5'SAG2, BTUB, C22-8 and SAG1) and in silico RFLP. High prevalence of genotype I and non-canonical genotypes were observed in this study, with some differences in the population structure of the parasite between livestock and wildlife. Genetic variability of T. gondii in Europe could be more variable than previously thought, with possible implication for public health.

Keywords: Genotyping; Livestock; Public health; Toxoplasma gondii; Wildlife.