The Veterinary Record, Vol 154, Issue 20, 632-635
Copyright © 2004 by British Veterinary Association

Detection of toxoplasmosis in experimentally infected goats by PCR

¹ Division of Parasitology, National Biotechnology Centre, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, 243 122, India
² Division of Biochemistry and Food Science, National Biotechnology Centre, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, 243 122, India
³ National Biotechnology Centre, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, 243 122, India

PCR was used to diagnose toxoplasmosis in two pairs of Barbari goats infected by oral administration of doses of either 10⁴ or 10⁵ oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii. Blood and lymph node aspirates were collected from the infected goats and control goat at intervals, and tissues were also collected from a fetus that was aborted and a doe that died during the trial. Both processed and unprocessed samples were used for the PCR, using primers directed to the multicopy B1 gene. None of the blood samples was positive, but a specific signal was obtained from the lymph node aspirates after partial DNA extraction. Direct PCR of the lung, muscle and mesenteric lymph node of the doe and lung tissue of the aborted fetus yielded the target fragment. The simplified PCR protocols, including partial DNA extraction and direct assay of lung tissue, were effective for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.