Detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon spp. in wild boars by serological and molecular methods.

摘要

The study aims to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and of 2 representative microsporidia (Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis) in wild boars (Sus scrofa) and to compare with the molecular detection of parasites by PCR. Sera collected from 91 hunterkilled wild boars from eight different regions of the Slovak republic were assayed for specific antibodies (IgG) using 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and the presence of parasites were investigated into seropositive animals by standard and real time PCR from blood for T. gondii and from stool samples for Encephalitozoon spp. Circulating antibodies targeted against T. gondii, E. cuniculi and E. intestinalis were detected in 18 (19.8%), 4 (4.4%) and 3 animals (3.3%) respectively. The frequency of the anti-T. gondii antibodies was significantly higher in young boars (<1 year old) (37.9%) than in adults (11.3%) (P<0.01) whereas only adult subjects were seropositive for the microsporidia. A DNA fragment (191 bp) from T. gondii was detected in only one positive boar in a relatively high number of copies (1.5x105) and the presence of Encephalitozoon spp. was not confirmed by PCR. These results indicate that wild boars can be contaminated by T. gondii and microsporidia with moderate and low seroprevalences respectively and that they do not represent a great (in quantity) reservoir of these parasites, but the risk of toxoplasmosis transmission to humans remains qualitatively important throughout consumption of meat from an effectively infected boar.