Genotyping of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in a lethal toxoplasmosis outbreak affecting captive howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta</i> sp.)
Clarissa Helena Santana, Ayisa Rodrigues Oliveira, Daniel Oliveira dos Santos, Samantha Pinheiro Pimentel, Lucas dos Reis de Souza, Larissa Giannini Alves Moreira, Heloísia Maria Bressan Braz, Thaynara Parente de Carvalho, Carlos Eduardo Bastos Lopes, Jefferson Bruno Soares Oliveira, Nayara Ferreira de Paula, Marcelo Pires Nogueira de Carvalho, Bárbara Jacqueline De Carvalho Alves, Hilda Fátima Jesus Pena, Renato L. Santos
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and warm-blooded animals. This study describes an outbreak of toxoplasmosis in howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.) and survival of capuchins (Sapajus apella), under the same environmental conditions. METHODS: Howler monkeys were submitted to post-mortem examination. Tissue samples were processed to histopathology and immunohistochemistry to detect lesions and tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. Tissue samples were also frozen and submitted to PCR and genotyping of T. gondii. RESULTS: Typical lesions were observed in several organs including the liver, lymph node, and brain, with intralesional cysts and tachyzoites of T. gondii demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. T. gondii genomic sequences were amplified by PCR, and genotyping characterized the same T. gondii clone in all howler monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the notion that some species of neotropical primates are highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis and the hypothesis that capuchins (S. apella) may be resistant.