Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Centro Politécnico, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, PR, 81531-990, Brazil.
Parasitol Res. 2010 Jun;107(1):141-6. doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-1848-4. Epub 2010 May 6.
Toxoplasmosis is considered nowadays as one of the most important foodborne diseases in the world. One of the emerging risks in acquiring infection with Toxoplasma gondii is the increasing popularity of wild animals and game meat. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is the world's largest extant rodent and is used for human consumption in many areas of South America, and in case it carries T. gondii cysts, it may act as a source of infection. In the present study, we detected infection with T. gondii in capybaras from the south of Brazil. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed in the serum of capybaras using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT > or = 1:16). Blood, liver, heart, lymph nodes, and spleen tissues were collected and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B1 gene and ITS1 region. The results showed that 61.5% (16/26) capybaras were seropositive to T. gondii. Titers of specific antibodies to T. gondii ranged from 1:16 to 1:512. Among the feral rodents studied, 7.7% (2/26) were PCR positive for B1 gene assay and 11.5% (3/26) were positive for ITS1 PCR assay; for both test, the prevalence was 15.4%. Liver, heart, and blood tissues were those which tested positive for the apicomplexan. Our findings show a high percentage of infection with T. gondii in asymptomatic capybaras. Based on those data, we hypothesize that the consumption of raw or undercooked capybara meat could be a source of infection for humans.
弓形虫病被认为是当今世界最重要的食源性疾病之一。感染刚地弓形虫的一个新出现的风险是野生动物和野味肉类越来越受欢迎。水豚（Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris）是世界上现存最大的啮齿动物，在南美的许多地区被用于人类食用，并且如果它携带刚地弓形虫包囊，它可能成为感染源。在本研究中，我们检测了来自巴西南部的水豚感染刚地弓形虫的情况。使用间接荧光抗体试验（IFAT≥1：16）检测水豚血清中的刚地弓形虫抗体。采集血液、肝脏、心脏、淋巴结和脾脏组织，并用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测 B1 基因和 ITS1 区。结果显示，61.5%（16/26）的水豚血清对刚地弓形虫呈阳性。特异性抗体对刚地弓形虫的滴度范围为 1：16 至 1：512。在所研究的野生啮齿动物中，7.7%（2/26）的 B1 基因检测 PCR 阳性，11.5%（3/26）的 ITS1 PCR 检测阳性；两种检测方法的阳性率均为 15.4%。肝脏、心脏和血液组织对顶复门虫呈阳性。我们的研究结果表明，无症状水豚感染刚地弓形虫的比例很高。基于这些数据，我们假设食用生的或未煮熟的水豚肉可能是人类感染的来源。
