Isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii from domestic rabbits in China to reveal the prevalence of type III strains

Yongzhi Zhou; Houshuang Zhang; Jie Cao; Haiyan Gong; Jinlin Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.11.031

Isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii from domestic rabbits in China to reveal the prevalence of type III strains

Vet Parasitol. 2013 Mar 31;193(1-3):270-6. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.11.031. Epub 2012 Dec 5.

Authors

Yongzhi Zhou¹, Houshuang Zhang, Jie Cao, Haiyan Gong, Jinlin Zhou

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China.

PMID: 23261088
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.11.031

Abstract

In this study, Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 77 free domestic rabbits from a rural area surrounding Shanghai, China were analyzed via ELISA, which identified 18 seropositive rabbits. One strain of T. gondii (designated SHR) was successfully isolated from one seropositive rabbit using a mouse bioassay. The isolated T. gondii killed all BALB/c mice inoculated with 10(4) tachyzoites, indicating its virulence in mice. Mn-PCR-RFLP analysis was used to type parasites recovered from cell cultures. Further analysis based on sequencing of a polymorphic intron revealed that the isolated strain contained a clonal type III genome, a rare finding in any host in China. This is the first reported isolation of T. gondii genotype III from rabbits in China. Our results suggested that type III strains are circulating in rabbits in China, which act as potential reservoirs of T. gondii transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
China / epidemiology
Female
Genotype
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Rabbits*
Toxoplasma / classification*
Toxoplasma / genetics
Toxoplasma / pathogenicity
Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology*
Virulence