First report of Toxoplasma gondii in green turtles (Chelonia mydas): Implications for wildlife and ecosystem health

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with varied implications for human and animal health. However, knowledge about its ecoepidemiology and the infection of a wide range of marine animals are incipient or poorly explored in many coastal areas worldwide. The goal of this study was to investigate the presence of T. gondii in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) found along the northern coast of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. A variety of tissues from eight green turtles were tested using Nested-PCR and T. gondii DNA was detected in brain and liver of two green turtles. This study provides the first evidence of T. gondii in marine turtles highlighting the importance of considering this species as accidental hosts for the parasite.

Keywords: Marine environment; Molecular biology; Testudines; Toxoplasmosis.