Comparison of methods for detection of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of naturally exposed pigs

This study aimed to compare the sensitivity of five diagnostic methods commonly used for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of naturally infected pigs. We purchased 20 heads of pigs in butcher shops in the city of Ilheus, Bahia. Brain and tongue fragments were taken from each animal for the performance of PCR against T. gondii. The rest of these two tissues were processed and inoculated into three mice. These rodents were observed for 42 days and euthanized. We prepared slides with brain and lungs of each mouse for the visualization of T. gondii. From the tissues of mice, we carried out polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histopathology, and immunohistochemistry in an attempt to identify the parasite. The PCR direct from the tissue of pigs showed 10% (2/20) of positive samples, all from the brain. PCR in tissue from mice found that 55% (11/20) of pigs were positive: 55% (11/20) and 45% (9/20) for brains and tongues, respectively. Mice were inoculated with material obtained from the samples and examined by various methods for resulting Toxoplasma infection (bioassay). Cyst detection in bioassay mice identified 25% (5/20) and immunohistochemistry 30% (6/20) of the samples pigs as positive for T. gondii. Histopathology of mice tissue could not detect parasite; only suggestive pathological changes such as inflammation with foci of necrosis were seen. The results indicated PCR of mice tissue as the most sensitive among those tested.