Detecção de zoonoses em carnes de caça comercializadas na região do Médio Rio Solimões – Coari-AM

Abstract

Zoonoses are infectious diseases caused by pathogens transmitted between animals and humans. One of the most important routes of transmission of these infectious agents occurs through the consumption of meat from wild animals (bushmeat), exposing individuals to diseases such as leprosy and toxoplasmosis. Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which mainly affects the skin and the peripheral nervous system, leading to skin lesions with decreased thermal and tactile sensitivity and can cause physical disability. This bacterium is normally transmitted from one person to another through respiratory tract secretions. Toxoplasma gondii, the protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis, represents a major public health problem, as it infects practically all warm-blooded animals, both terrestrial and aquatic. Toxoplasma gondii has a complex life cycle and is an important food-borne pathogen, and thus infection in humans can result from ingestion or handling of raw or undercooked meat containing cysts in the tissue of a domestic or wild host. In this sense, this study aimed to detect the presence of DNA from the pathogens M. leprae and T. gondii in samples of bushmeat sold in the municipality of Coari, Amazonas, on the middle Solimões River. Mycobacterium leprae DNA was investigated using a nested PCR of the 18-KDa antigen gene. Molecular markers to identify the presence of DNA from members of the Toxoplasmatinae subfamily, including T. gondii, were used by means of nested PCR using 18S and 5.8S targets/primers. After amplification, positive samples were used for sequencing reactions. Of the 168 samples analyzed, 77.98% (131/168) were positive for the presence of M. leprae DNA. Regarding the subfamily Toxoplasmatinae 34.52% (58/168) of the samples were positive, and after sequencing 21 samples and confirmation via BLAST, 16 were identified as T. gondii and five as Sarcocystis spp. the results show that the illegal trade and consumption of wild animal meat can represent an important source of infection for humans and consequently problems for public health.