Molecular detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Toxoplasma gondii in Rattus norvegicus from Tehran province, Iran

Molecular detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Toxoplasma gondii in Rattus norvegicus from Tehran province, Iran
Taher Azimi,¹ Leila Azimi,^2,* Fatemeh Fallah,³ Abdollah Karimi,⁴ Roxana Mansour-Ghanaie,⁵ Seyedeh Mahsan Hoseini‐Alfatemi,⁶
1. Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2. Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3. Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4. Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5. Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6. Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Rodents have become a threat to public health worldwide and they are reservoirs for transmission of zoonotic parasites. Given the large number presence of rodents throughout the city of Tehran, this study aims to assess the frequency of Trichomonas vaginalis and Toxoplasma gondii carried by commensal Rattus norvegicus wandering in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: The serological test was applied in order to detect effective antibodies against Trichomonas vaginalis using a commercial qualitative rat ELISA kit. The polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in commensal Rattus norvegicus dispersed in Tehran.
Results: A total of 50 live Rattus norvegicus were captured and surveyed in order to determine their zoonotic parasites. Seroreactivity against Trichomonas vaginalis was detected in 6% (n = 3/50) of the Rattus norvegicus tested. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 16 out of 50 (32%) Rattus norvegicus.
Conclusion: The present study is the first research to have investigated the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in the Rattus population, worldwide. The finding of our study indicates that the Rattus norvegicus population is a significant reservoir of Toxoplasma gondii infection for humans in Tehran. Information about zoonotic parasites carried by the Rattus norvegicus population in Tehran province is critical to developing suitable surveillance plans and intervention strategies.
Keywords: Trichomonas vaginalis; Toxoplasma gondii; Rattus norvegicus; Tehran