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Evidence of the three main clonal Toxoplasma gondii lineages from wild mammalian carnivores in the UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2013

A. BURRELLS ,
P. M. BARTLEY ,
I. A. ZIMMER ,
S. ROY ,
A. C. KITCHENER ,
A. MEREDITH ,
S. E. WRIGHT ,
E. A. INNES  and
F. KATZER
A. BURRELLS
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
P. M. BARTLEY
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
I. A. ZIMMER
Affiliation:
The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
S. ROY
Affiliation:
The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
A. C. KITCHENER
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK Institute of Geography, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
A. MEREDITH
Affiliation:
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
S. E. WRIGHT
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
E. A. INNES
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
F. KATZER*
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 OPZ, UK. E-mail: frank.katzer@moredun.ac.uk
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Summary

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic pathogen defined by three main clonal lineages (types I, II, III), of which type II is most common in Europe. Very few data exist on the prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii in the UK. Wildlife can act as sentinel species for T. gondii genotypes present in the environment, which may subsequently be transmitted to livestock and humans. DNA was extracted from tissue samples of wild British carnivores, including 99 ferrets, 83 red foxes, 70 polecats, 65 mink, 64 badgers and 9 stoats. Parasite DNA was detected using a nested ITS1 PCR specific for T. gondii, PCR positive samples were subsequently genotyped using five PCR–RFLP markers. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected within all these mammal species and prevalence varied from 6·0 to 44·4% depending on the host. PCR–RFLP genotyping identified type II as the predominant lineage, but type III and type I alleles were also identified. No atypical or mixed genotypes were identified within these animals. This study demonstrates the presence of alleles for all three clonal lineages with potential for transmission to cats and livestock. This is the first DNA-based study of T. gondii prevalence and genotypes across a broad range of wild British carnivores.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondiiwildlifecarnivoresUKgenotyping
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 140 , Issue 14 , December 2013 , pp. 1768 - 1776
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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