Investigation of soil contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii oocyst in urban public environment, in Brazil

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases Vol. 79; p. 101715
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Pollyanne Raysa Fernandes, de Melo, Renata Pimentel Bandeira, Sierra, Tania Alexandra Ortega, da Silva, Renato Amorim, da Silva de Oliveira, José Eudes, de Almeida, Brivaldo Gomes, Mota, Rinaldo Aparecido
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Oocysts; Parasites; Parks; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Protozoa; Public health; Sediment pollution; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil investigations; Soil pollution; Soils; Toxoplasma - genetics; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Brazil; Public health; Toxoplasma gondii; Soil contamination
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101715

In this study, we determined the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soil samples from public places. A total of 120 samples were collected from 24 sites, including squares, parks, university, hospitals in the city of Recife. The recovered oocysts were subjected to a nested-PCR test, and nine sites (9/24) were found to be positive for gene of apicomplexan parasites. The PCR product was sequenced, and 8.33% (10/120) of the samples showed 100% similarity to T. gondii DNA. T. gondii oocysts were detected in 75% (3/4) of the evaluated hospital soil samples and in 23.81% (5/21) soils samples from the public squares and parks. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the soil in the areas analyzed as a source of T. gondii infection and therefore highlight the importance of devising educational strategies on the use of these sites, in addition to future cleaning protocols in public areas. •Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in public spaces.•Physicochemical variables of the soil contaminated by Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.•Public spaces as potential sources of parasite infection for susceptible hosts.