Evaluation of diagnostic tests for the detection of infection or exposure to toxoplasma gondii in intermediary and definitive hosts.

Toxoplasmosis, one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases worldwide, caused by the parasite toxoplasma gondii. The human not only acquires the infection by contact with stool contaminated with oocysts of the final hosts; But it has been reported that the consumption of partially cooked or raw meat and non -pausterized milk imply a high risk of acquisition of the parasite. Since in our area a considerable part of the bovine milk produced is consumed without prior processing that favors the inactivation of the parasite, it is important to know if the bovine milk contains the parasite and if the cattle and domestic felines in coexistence are exposed or infected, since the latter acquire the infection mainly by the consumption of the rodents hunted. Therefore, it is proposed to evaluate the application of Molecular Biology and Immunegnostic Biology for the identification of infection and exposure to Toxoplasma Gondii in these intermediary or definitive hosting animal species. For this, an isothermal amplification test mediated by Loz (LAMP) will be implemented with its respective process control, and evaluate the ability to detect toxoplasm genetic material Gondii in sample of bovine milk and blood of domestic cats. Additionally, an Immunoabsorption test linked to indirect enzymes (Elisai) will be developed and evaluated for the detection of noise antibodies of cattle and domestic felines, with the use of three recombinant proteins of the parasite designed and produced in the Molecular Biology laboratory of the FF.CC.AA. These diagnostic trials will allow the future to dimension the frequency of this disease in susceptible animal species, define the transmission pathways to human and thereby favor the creation of control strategies of this parasitosis

XVIII UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS