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. 2022 Nov 28:12:1071988.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1071988. eCollection 2022.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Chanjuan Yue  1 , Wanjing Yang  1 , Xueyang Fan  1 , Jingchao Lan  1 , Wenjun Huang  1 , Dongsheng Zhang  1 , Yunli Li  1 , Lihui Liao  1 , James Edward Ayala  1 , Kongju Wu  1 , Yiyan Liu  1   2 , Weichao Zheng  3 , Lin Li  1 , Hongwen Zhang  1 , Xiaoyan Su  1 , Xia Yan  1 , Rong Hou  1 , Songrui Liu  1
Affiliations

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Chanjuan Yue et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii, a globally zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects most warm-blooded animals including the giant panda, and poses a serious threat to the giant panda conservation. However, the seroprevalence and the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in giant pandas are unknown. Here we aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the captive population of giant pandas and analyze the factors associated with the increased risk of infection.

Methods: A total of 203 serum samples were collected from 157 (95 females and 62 males) captive giant pandas from 2007 to 2022, antibodies against T. gondii were screened using commercial ELISA and MAT kits.

Results: The results showed 56 (35.67%) giant pandas were seropositive, age and transfer history between institutions were identifified as risk factors for T. gondii infection. It is suggested that age-related seroprevalence was the main factor, and housing multiple species in the same environment may increase the chance of cross-infection of T. gondii.

Discussion: This study can provide research data for developing policies for the prevention and control of T. gondii and protecting the health of captive giant pandas and other wildlife.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; giant panda (ailuropoda melanoleuea); seroprevalence; wildlife conservation; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map showing eleven sampling sites. The pie charts showed the seroprevalence of giant pandas for T. gondii in different sampling sites, the blue part is negative, and the orange part is positive. The locations represented by the letters: (A), Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, Sichuan; (B), Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu, Sichuan; (C), Chengdu Field Research Center for Giant Panda-Panda Valley; (D), China Conservation Research Center for Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan; (E), China Conservation Research Center for Giant Panda, Yaan, Sichuan; (F), Sichuan Daxiangling Research Base of Giant Panda Reintroduction, Sichuan; (G), Heizhugou National Nature Reserve, Leshan, Sichuan; (H), Shanxi Rare Wildlife Research Center Zhouzhi, Shaanxi; (I), Hangzhou Zoo, Hangzhou, Zhejiang; (J), Anji Bamboo Expo Park, Anji, Zhejiang; (K), Taibei Zoo, Taibei, Taiwan.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relationships between the prevalence of giant pandas and age trends. P: positive, N: negative. The line chart shows the seroprevalence in different ages. The colors in the background indicated the percentage of the seroprevalence (The dark color: positive; The light color: negative) in different age groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The antibodies to T. gondii in nine adult giant pandas at different ages. The letters (A-I) correspond to the nine adult giant pandas ( Table 1 ) for which 55 serum samples were collected. Red dot: antibody-positive, Blue dot: antibody-negative. The abscissa represents a negative or positive result; The ordinate represents the age of the panda at the time of sample collection.
Figure 4
Figure 4
T. gondii seroprevalence giant pandas in different months. P: positive, N: negative. The line chart shows the seroprevalence in a different month. The colors in the background indicated the percentage of the seroprevalence (The dark color: positive; The light color: negative) in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
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