Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, which affect both humans and animals. In wildlife infection by T. gondii is common and several studies in the literature have demonstrated their occurrence in different organisms . In animals , just as in humans, the problems arising from infection by T. gondii, have been the subject of several studies aimed at understanding the epidemiological, clinical, and even economic, caused by the presence of this parasite. Even in animals, such aspects are important since they are repositories of the parasite. However, knowledge of the natural history of most parasitic zoonoses in South America is still poorly understood both in humans and in animals. Particularly in the past , the difficulty in obtaining samples and insufficient knowledge of the biology , ecology and behavior limit these searches. This study aims to isolate and characterize genetically (PCR - RFLP) samples of Toxoplasma gondii in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla ), an important wild animals of Northwest region of Sao Paulo state. (AU)