Pecking at Protozoan Parasites: PCR Diagnostics of Toxoplasma gondii in South Floridian Birds

Pecking at Protozoan Parasites: PCR Diagnostics of Toxoplasma gondii in South Floridian Birds

Alvin Sherman Library

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite whose prevalence and transmission remain underexplored in wildlife, especially in birds. This is a crucial gap since birds can serve as pathogen reservoirs (facilitating transmission to humans and other animals) and because T. gondii’s prevalence in wildlife (e.g. birds) helps illuminate its environmental distribution. Thus, characterizing T. gondii in local avian communities can help us assess and mitigate risks to the health of humans, pets, agricultural animals, and endangered wildlife. This study investigates T. gondii prevalence in South Florida’s diverse avian species. We obtained tissue samples from >100 birds by dissecting carcasses provided by conservation facilities. We then isolated and characterized DNA from heart, muscle, liver, and brain samples, and used this material for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests that detect T. gondii DNA in infected tissues. To facilitate this work, we also synthesized scientific literature to assess the accuracy and sensitivity of alternative molecular diagnostic approaches. Lastly, we analyzed published studies from other regions to assess how abiotic variables (e.g. temperature and precipitation), host variables (e.g. diet, habitat preference, phylogeny), and anthropogenic factors (e.g. urban-wild gradients) can be predicted to shape our findings. Our preliminary results provide valuable insight into the prevalence and distribution of T. gondii in South Florida’s wildlife, as well as predictions for how land use and climate change will impact avian pathogen reservoirs. Understanding these dynamics will help mitigate the risks T. gondii poses to wildlife and human health - on both local and larger scales.