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Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan protozoan, which infects the human body and many warm-blooded animals including wild boars. Wild boars have an important role in maintenance and transmission of T. gondii and may pose a potential risk to humans and wildlife health. Objectives: The current study was conducted to find out the seroprevalence and genotypes of T. gondii in wild boars in southwest of Iran. Methods: Twenty five adult wild boars were hunted, in 2013. Blood and tissue samples (muscle, tongue, liver, and brain) were collected from each animal. Blood samples were assessed for antibodies against T. gondii by the modified agglutination test. DNA was extracted from the tissues and PCR-amplified, targeting a 529 bp DNA fragment of T. gondii. The PCR products were purified and sequenced. Results: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 4 out of the 25 (16%) wild boars. There was no gender or age-related differences in seroprevalence of T. gondii in the studied animals. PCR detected the 529 bp band of T. gondii in brain samples of 5 out of 25 (20%) of animals. Molecular evaluation confirmed the presence of type III (4 cases) and type I (1 case) of T. gondii in the studied wild boars. Conclusions: Findings of the study demonstrated that the T. gondii infection is common in wild boars in southwest Iran and could represent a significant health risk for animals, hunters, and local residents who may consume wild boar meat.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection in organ transplant recipients, people receiving corticosteroid or radiation therapy, people with malignancies, and AIDS patients. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancies in the Bushehr province of southwest Iran. Methods: Blood samples were taken from 86 patients who were continuously referred to the chemotherapy center in Bushehr province and evaluated by ELISA to determine anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Moreover, a blood buffy coat of each sample was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), targeting a 529 bp gene of T. gondii. PCR products of the positive samples were sequenced to determine the genotype of the parasite. Results: Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were detected in the sera of 21 (24.4%) cases. All of the patients were negative for anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. No statistically significant correlation was found between seropositivity to Toxoplasma and duration of chemotherapy or having contact with cats. PCR detected a 529 bp band of T. gondii in the buffy coats of two out of 86 (2.3%) cases. The sequence analysis demonstrated that both cases were 95% identical to type III (VEG strain) of T. gondii. Conclusions: Findings of this study demonstrated the presence of type III T. gondii in the buffy coats of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Given that toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, these patients should be screened for toxoplasmosis before and during chemotherapy to prevent acute toxoplasmosis.