TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic divergence of Toxoplasma gondii strains associated with ocular toxoplasmosis, Brazil
AU - Khan, Asis
AU - Jordan, Catherine
AU - Muccioli, Cristina
AU - Vallochi, Adriana L.
AU - Rizzo, Luiz V.
AU - Belfort, Rubens
AU - Vitor, Ricardo W.A.
AU - Silveira, Claudio
AU - Sibley, L. David
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis and the frequent occurrence of ocular disease in Brazil. To identify the genotypes of parasite strains associated with ocular disease, we compared 25 clinical and animal isolates of Toxoplasma gondii from Brazil to previously characterized clonal lineages from North America and Europe. Multilocus nested polymerase chain reaction analysis was combined with direct sequencing of a polymorphic intron to classify strains by phylogenetic methods. The genotypes of T. gondii strains isolated from Brazil were highly divergent when compared to the previously described clonal lineages. Several new predominant genotypes were identified from different regions of Brazil, including 2 small outbreaks attributable to foodborne or waterborne infection. These findings show that the genetic makeup of T. gondii is more complex than previously recognized and suggest that unique or divergent genotypes may contribute to different clinical outcomes of toxoplasmosis in different localities.
AB - Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis and the frequent occurrence of ocular disease in Brazil. To identify the genotypes of parasite strains associated with ocular disease, we compared 25 clinical and animal isolates of Toxoplasma gondii from Brazil to previously characterized clonal lineages from North America and Europe. Multilocus nested polymerase chain reaction analysis was combined with direct sequencing of a polymorphic intron to classify strains by phylogenetic methods. The genotypes of T. gondii strains isolated from Brazil were highly divergent when compared to the previously described clonal lineages. Several new predominant genotypes were identified from different regions of Brazil, including 2 small outbreaks attributable to foodborne or waterborne infection. These findings show that the genetic makeup of T. gondii is more complex than previously recognized and suggest that unique or divergent genotypes may contribute to different clinical outcomes of toxoplasmosis in different localities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33744930896&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3201/eid1206.060025
DO - 10.3201/eid1206.060025
M3 - Article
C2 - 16707050
AN - SCOPUS:33744930896
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 12
SP - 942
EP - 949
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
IS - 6
ER -