Aborto em ovino causado por genótipo atípico de Toxoplasma gondii no estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the major causes of abortion in sheep. We report an episode of a novel atypical genotype of T. gondii-associated abortion in a sheep flock belonging to the Veterinary School Hospital of the University of Cuiabá located in Midwestern Brazil. The flock was comprised of 13 adult sheep, and one abortion was detected in gestating ewes. T. gondii indirect immunofluorescence assay performed in serum samples yielded an antibody title was 1:8192 in the affected dam indicating an acute phase of infection. The only significant gross findings were the placental cotyledons with white discoloration foci. Microscopic findings included multifocal necrotizing encephalitis with extralesional protozoal cysts in the fetus's brain and moderate multifocal lymphoplasmacytic necrotizing placentitis. Tissue samples of the fetus and placenta had a positive PCR result for T. gondii. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyping using markers (SAG1, 5’-3’SAG2, AltSAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and APICO) was carried out and the results were consistent with atypical genotype. Ovine abortion caused by atypical infection of T. gondii has yet to be described in Brazil.