RT Journal Article T1 Toxoplasma gondii Genetic Diversity in Mediterranean Dolphins A1 Fernández Escobar, Mercedes A1 Giorda, Federica A1 Mattioda, Virgina A1 Audino, Tania A1 Di Nocera, Fabio A1 Lucifora, Giuseppe A1 Varello, Katia A1 Grattarola, Carla A1 Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel A1 Casalone, Cristina A1 Calero Bernal, Rafael AB Toxoplasma gondii constitutes a major zoonotic agent but also has been frequently identified as an important cause of clinical disease (e.g., abortion, pneumonia, encephalitis) in wildlife; specifically, T. gondii has been associated with neurological disease in cetaceans. This study investigated the genetic diversity of T. gondii strains involved in infections in dolphins found stranded in the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy. Tissue samples from 16 dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus species) positive for T. gondii-DNA presence by PCR were examined by histology and subjected to further genetic characterization of strains detected by PCR-RFLP and multilocus PCR-sequencing assays. According to fully genotyped samples, the genotypes ToxoDB#3 (67%) and #2 (22%) were detected, the latter being reported for the first time in cetaceans, along with a mixed infection (11%). Subtyping by PCR-seq procedures provided evidence of common point mutations in strains from southwestern Europe. Despite evidence of T. gondii as a cause of neurological disease in dolphins, sources of infections are difficult to identify since they are long-living animals and some species have vast migration areas with multiple chances of infection. Finally, the genetic diversity of T. gondii found in the dolphins studied in the Mediterranean coastlines of Italy reflects the main genotypes circulating inland in the European continent. PB MPDI SN 2076-0817 YR 2022 FD 2022-08-12 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73214 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73214 LA eng NO Italian Ministry of Health NO EU: Horizonte 2020 DS Docta Complutense RD 6 oct 2024