Cats are the definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. The distribution of genetic diversity of T. gondii in cats is of importance to understand the transmission of this parasite. The objective of this study was to genetically characterize T. gondii isolates from cats in Yunnan province, southwestern China. Genomic DNA was extracted from 5–10 g cat tissue samples (brain, tongue, heart, and liver). Using multilocous polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology, we determined genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from cats in Yunnan province. In total, 175 stray cats were tested for T. gondii DNA, respectively, 44 (25.14%) of which were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. The positive DNA samples were typed at 11 genetic markers, including 10 nuclear markers, namely, SAG1, 5'-3' SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, GRA6, L358, PK1, BTUB, c22-8, c29-2 and an apicoplast locus Apico. Of these, 16 isolates from cats were genotyped with data for more than 9 loci, revealed 5 genotypes in total, of which 11 of 16 samples were identified as ToxoDB#9, two samples may belong to genotye #225, one was Type II, one was ToxoDB#3, and one was ToxoDB#20 ( http://toxodb.org/toxo/ ). The results of the present study indicated a wide distribution of T. gondii infection in cats in Yunnan province, which may pose significant public health concerns. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of T. gondii prevalence and genotypes in cats in southwestern China, and the first report of Type II T. gondii from cats in China.

Background: Toxoplasma gondiiis an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, with a worldwide distribution. There have been limited reports about the seroprevalence ofT.gondiiinfection in equids around the world and little is known about the seroprevalence ofT.gondiiin equids in southwestern China, in particular in Yunnan Province. The objective of the present investigation was to estimate the seroprevalence ofT.gondiiinfection in equids in this area.Methods: A total of 399 serum samples (266 from horses and 133 from donkeys) were collected in 2012, and assayed forT.gondiiantibodies by Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test using a commercially available kit.Results: A total of 108 (27.1%) equids, including 81 (30.5%) horses and 27 (20.3%) donkeys were positive forT.gondiiantibodies, and the seroprevalence ranged from 18.8% to 37.5% among different sampling areas. The seroprevalence was 27.4% and 26.8% for male and female equids, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The seroprevalence ranged from 21% to 32.9% among different age groups, and the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).Conclusions: The results of the present survey indicated the existence of highT.gondiiseroprevalence in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, which has significant public health concern. Therefore, it is imperative that improved integrated measures be carried out to prevent and controlT.gondiiinfection in equids in the studied region.

The genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii varies in different geographical regions. Isolates of T. gondii in South America, for example, are genetically and biologically divergent from those in North America and Europe, where the population structure is highly clonal and composed mainly of 3 distinct lineages, i.e., Types I, II, and III. However, little is known of the T. gondii genotypes in the People's Republic of China. Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs causes significant economic loss and presents a risk for human infection. We conducted a survey to determine the genetic diversity of this parasite in slaughtered pigs from Yunnan Province, southwestern China. In total, 412 DNA samples were extracted from hilar lymph nodes and livers of pigs from slaughterhouses in Yunnan Province in southwest China, 56 of which were found to be positive for the T. gondii SAG3 gene. These positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers, including 9 nuclear loci, i.e., SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2, and an apicoplast locus Apico. Of these, 5 isolates were genotyped with complete data for all loci. Only 1 genotype (ToxoDB 9) was identified, previously reported as a widespread lineage from pigs, cats, and human patients in China. The results indicate that this genotype may be the major T. gondii lineage in China and possibly all of eastern Asia. This is the first report of genetic typing of T. gondii isolates from pigs in China's southwestern Yunnan Province, the results of which have implications for the prevention and control of T. gondii infections in humans and other animals.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite infecting almost all warm-blooded animals, including birds, with a worldwide distribution. Surveys of T. gondii infection in wild birds have been reported extensively in the world, but little is known of T. gondii infection in peafowls worldwide. This study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in peafowls in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Methods: Sera from 277 peafowls, including 272 blue peafowls (Pavo cristatus) and 5 green peafowls (Pavo muticus) originated from two geographic areas in Yunnan Province were assayed for T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Results: Specific T. gondii antibodies were detected in 35 of 277 (12.64%) peafowls (MAT titer ≥ 1:5). Seropositive birds were found in both species, 33 in 272 blue peafowls and 2 in 5 green peafowls. There was no significant difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between the adolescent birds (6.74%) and the adult birds (6.67%) (P > 0.05). The geographical origins of peafowls was found to be highly associated with T. gondii infection in the present study, a statistically significant difference in T. gondii seropositivity was observed between peafowls from Kunming (31.08%) and those from Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (5.91%) (OR = 10.956, 95% CI = 1.632-73.545, P = 0.014). Statistical analyses showed that there were no significant interactions between ages and geographical origins of peafowls (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present survey indicated that infection of peafowls with T. gondii is widespread in Yunnan Province, which has significant public health concerns and implications for prevention and control of toxoplamosis in this province. To our knowledge, this is the first seroprevalence report of T. gondii infection in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects almost all warm-blooded animals and human beings. Goats are one of the susceptible animals to T. gondii. However, little is known of genetic diversity of T. gondii in Yunnan black goats in China. The objective of this present study was to determine the genotypes of T. gondii isolates from black goats in Yunnan province, southwest China. Genomic DNA was extracted from liver (n = 403), lung (n = 403) and lymph nodes (n = 250) of Yunnan black goats and assayed for T. gondii infection by semi-nested PCR of B1 gene. Then, the positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. These markers include 9 nuclear loci, namely, SAG1, SAG2 (5’-SAG2 and 3’-SAG2, alternative SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and an apicoplast locus Apico. Out of 403 tested samples, 20 (4.96%) DNA samples were T. gondii positive by amplification of B1 gene. Among them, 2 isolates were genotyped at all loci, and 6 isolates were genotyped for 8 or more loci. In total, seven samples belong to ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype#10 (Type I), and one belongs to genotype ToxoDB #9. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ToxoDB#9 and ToxoDB#10 T. gondii in Yunnan black goats in China. These results revealed a wide distribution of these T. gondii in Yunnan black goats in China, which has important implications for public health.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which infects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, with a worldwide distribution. However, little is known of T. gondii seroprevalence in pet dogs in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, southwest China. The objective of this investigation was to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pet dogs in this area. Methods: A total of 611 serum samples were collected from 7 pet hospitals in Kunming, and assayed for T. gondii antibodies by the indirect haemagglutination (IHA) using a commercially-marked kit. Results: 132 (21.6%) pet dogs were positive for T. gondii antibodies, and the seroprevalence ranged from 17.3% to 34.7% among different sampling regions, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The T. gondii seroprevalence in female and male dogs were 20.8% and 22.4%, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The seroprevalence ranged from 17.5% to 23.6% among different age groups, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), and there were no interactions in statistics (P > 0.05) between gender and age of pet dogs in the region. Conclusions: The findings of the present survey indicate high T. gondii seroprevalance in pet dogs in Kunming, southwest China, posing significant public health concern. It is necessary to enhance integrated strategies and measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in pet dogs in this area.