Non-archetypal Type II-like and atypical strains of Toxoplasma gondii infecting marsupials of Australia

Australia is geographically isolated and possesses a remarkable diversity of wildlife species. Marsupials are highly susceptible to infection with the cosmopolitan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Of 46 marsupials screened for T. gondii by multilocus PCR-DNA sequencing at polymorphic genes (B1, SAG3, GRA...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal for parasitology 2010-05, Vol.40 (6), p.635-640
Main Authors: Parameswaran, N., Thompson, R.C.A., Sundar, N., Pan, S., Johnson, M., Smith, N.C., Grigg, M.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Australia
Biological and medical sciences
Cluster Analysis
DNA, Protozoan - chemistry
DNA, Protozoan - genetics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genotype
Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis
Mammalia
Marsupialia - parasitology
Marsupials
Mice
Non-archetypal
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Genetic
Protozoa
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Survival Analysis
Toxoplasma - classification
Toxoplasma - isolation & purification
Toxoplasma - pathogenicity
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - parasitology
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Virulence
Wildlife
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Summary:Australia is geographically isolated and possesses a remarkable diversity of wildlife species. Marsupials are highly susceptible to infection with the cosmopolitan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Of 46 marsupials screened for T. gondii by multilocus PCR-DNA sequencing at polymorphic genes (B1, SAG3, GRA6, GRA7), 12 were PCR-positive; the majority (67%; 9/12) were infected by non-archetypal Type II-like or atypical strains. Six novel alleles were detected at B1, indicating greater diversity of genotypes than previously envisaged. Two isolates lethal to marsupials, were avirulent to mice. The data support the conclusion that Australia’s isolation may have favoured the persistence of non-archetypal ancestral genotypes.
ISSN:0020-7519
1879-0135
DOI:10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.02.008