The First Molecular Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in the brain tissue of rats, Gaza, Palestine

AbstractBackgroundToxoplasma gondiiis the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, its associated disease, which has significant economic, veterinary and medical importance. To determine the prevalence ofT. gondiiinfection in the brin tissues rats trapped from local markets in Gaza, Palestine using nested-PCR assay.MethodsA total of 132 black rats (Rattus rattus) were analyzed. We used Polymerase Chain Reaction (nested-PCR). The present study showed that 86 out of 132 (65.2%) and 36 (27.3%) of the trapped rats were infected withT. gondiiusing B1 and SAG1 genes respectively.ResultsThe results showed that males have higher infection withT. gondiithan females with a significant difference (P=0.02) when using B1 gene. In both B1 gene and SAG1 gene there was shared positive for 30 samples (22.7%).ConclusionsThis finding indicated thatRattus rattuswhich is dominant in Gaza Strip could be a potential source ofT. gondiifor stray cats in the local markets and disseminating infection to the other parts of Gaza Strip. We recommend that Gaza municipality should take serious measures towards minimizing the number of roaming cats in the local markets of Gaza and other governorates, and changing policy towards the current site of Feras market.