Virulence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from goats in Ceará, Brazil

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 79 - 82
• Main Authors: Cavalcante, A.C.R., Ferreira, A.M., Melo, M.N., Fux, B., Brandão, G.P., Vitor, R.W.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2007
• Subjects: animal models; genetic recombination; genotype; goat diseases; Goats; haplotypes; heart; mice; molecular epidemiology; molecular genetics; pathogenicity; pathotypes; PCR-RFLP; polymerase chain reaction; restriction fragment length polymorphism; strains; tissue analysis; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis; Virulence; Brazil; Toxoplasma gondii; PCR-RFLP; Goats; Virulence
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.12.023

One hundred and sixty-nine fragments of heart muscle collected from goats in the State of Ceará, Brazil, were analyzed by mouse bioassay with the aim of isolating Toxoplasma gondii. Two T. gondii isolates, named G1 and G2, were obtained and were characterized by PCR-RFLP. In addition, their virulence was evaluated by experimental inoculation into BALB/c mice. The G1 isolate presented high virulence leading to 100% mortality of mice after inoculations with 10 1, 10 2, and 10 3 tachyzoites. The G2 isolate presented low virulence and none of the doses tested lead to mortality of mice. The PCR-RFLP analysis showed that the two isolates are recombinants of the types I/III. However, they differ in the haplotype combination for the genotypes analyzed.