TOXOSOURCES

OHEJP Toxosources project logo

The Project #TOXOSOURCES

Start: 1 January 2020
Duration: 3 Years
Domain: Foodborne Zoonoses
Keywords: parasitology, source attribution, transmission, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis
Contact: Pikka Jokelainen (SSI)

TOXOSOURCES: Toxoplasma gondii sources quantified

TOXOSOURCES provided a unique international collaboration with optimal complementary expertise on the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii at the interface of humans, animals, food, and environment.

The TOXOSOURCES project sought to address the research question – What are the relative contributions of the different sources of T. gondii infection? – using several multidisciplinary approaches and novel and improved methods to yield the most robust estimates possible that can inform risk management and policy makers.

The main outcomes of TOXOSOURCES are quantitative estimates of the contribution of the main sources and transmission routes of T. gondii infection based on improved source attribution models, new data filling the key knowledge gap about the role of increasingly popular but unstudied ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh produce, a novel serological method that aims to specifically detect infections caused by oocysts, and a novel typing method to improve preparedness to detect introduction of atypical T. gondii strains by import and to trace the infection sources in outbreaks.

All the results are integrated to contribute to developing efficient interventions at national, regional, European and global levels. TOXOSOURCES will have immediate and long-term societal impact, and has potential, ability and ambition to advance science.

Project Assets

Andreopoulou, M., Schares, G., Koethe, M., Chaligiannis, I.,Maksimov, P., Joeres, M., Cardron, G., Goroll, T., Sotiraki, S., Daugschies, A. & Bangoura, B.  (2023). Prevalence and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in different types of poultry in Greece, associated risk factors and co-existence with Eimeria spp. Parasitology Research. 122, 97–111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07701-6

Huertas-López, A., Contreras Rojo, M., Sukhumavasi, W., Martínez-Subiela, S., Álvarez-García, G., López-Ureña, N. M., Cerón, J. J., & Martínez-Carrasco, C. (2022). Comparative performance of five recombinant and chimeric antigens in a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats. Veterinary Parasitology. 304, 109703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109703

Calero-Bernal, R., Fernández-Escobar, M., Katzer, F., Su, C., & Ortega-Mora, L. M. (2022). Unifying Virulence Evaluation in Toxoplasma gondii: A Timely Task. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 12, 868727. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.868727

Fernández-Escobar, M., Schares, G., Maksimov, P., Joeres, M., Ortega-Mora, L. M., & Calero-Bernal, R. (2022). Toxoplasma gondii Genotyping: A Closer Look Into Europe. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 12, 842595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.842595

Huertas-López, A., Sánchez-Sánchez, R., Diezma-Díaz, C., Álvarez-García, G., Martínez-Carrasco, C., Martínez-Subiela, S. &  Cerón, J. J. (2022). Detection of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep’s full-cream milk by a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. Veterinary Parasitology. 301, 109641. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109641

Fernández-Escobar, M., Giorda, F., Mattioda, V., Audino, T., Di Nocera, F., Lucifora, G., Varello, K., Grattarola, C., Ortega-Mora, L.M,, Casalone, C., Calero-Bernal, R. (2022). Toxoplasma gondii Genetic Diversity in Mediterranean Dolphins. Pathogens. 11(8), 909. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11080909

López Ureña NM., Chaudhry U., Calero Bernal R., Cano Alsua S., Messina D., Evangelista F, Betson M., Lalle M, Jokelainen P., Ortega Mora L.M., Álvarez García G. (2022). Contamination of Soil, Water, Fresh Produce, and Bivalve Mollusks with Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms. 10(3), 517. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030517

Kinnunen, P. M., Matomäki, A., Verkola, M., Heikinheimo, A., Vapalahti, O., Kallio-Kokko, H., Virtala, A. M., & Jokelainen, P. (2022). Veterinarians as a Risk Group for Zoonoses: Exposure, Knowledge and Protective Practices in Finland. Safety and health at work. 13(1), 78–85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.10.008

Isidro, J., Borges, V., Pinto, M., Sobral, D., Santos, J. D., Nunes, A., Mixão, V., Ferreira, R., Santos, D., Duarte, S., Vieira, L., Borrego, M. J., Núncio, S., de Carvalho, I. L., Pelerito, A., Cordeiro, R., & Gomes, J. P. (2022). Phylogenomic characterization and signs of microevolution in the 2022 multi-country outbreak of monkeypox virus. Nature medicine. 28(8), 1569–1572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01907-y

Álvarez García G., Davidson R., Jokelainen P., Klevar S., Spano F., Seeber F. (2021). Identification of Oocyst-Driven Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Humans and Animals through Stage-Specific Serology—Current Status and Future Perspectives. Microorganisms. 9(11), 2346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112346

González-Barrio D., Huertas-López A., Diezma-Díaz C., Ferre I., Cerón J. J., Ortega-Mora L. M. Álvarez-García G. (2021) Changes in serum biomarkers of inflammation in bovine besnoitiosis. Parasites Vectors 14488. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04991-0

González-Barrio D., Diezma-Díaz C., Gutiérrez-Expósito D., Tabanera E., Jiménez-Meléndez A., Pizarro M., González-Huecas M., Ferre I., Ortega-Mora L. M., Álvarez-García G. (2021) Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with disease progression in the testis of bulls infected with Besnoitia besnoitiVet Res 52,106 . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-021-00974-2

González-Barrio D., Köster P.C., Habela M.A., Martín-Pérez M., Fernández-García J.L., Balseiro A., Barral M., Nájera F., Figueiredo A.M., Palacios M.J., Mateo M., Carmena D., Álvarez-García G., Calero-Bernal R. (2021). Molecular survey of Besnoitia spp. (Apicomplexa) in faeces from European wild mesocarnivores in Spain. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases683156– 3166.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14206.

Huertas-López A., Sukhumavasi W., Álvarez-García G., Martínez-Subiela S., Cano-Terriza D., Almería S., Dubey J.P., García-Bocanegra I., Cerón J.J., Martínez-Carrasco, C. (2021). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in outdoor dogs and cats in Bangkok, Thailand. Parasitology, 148(7), 843-849. DOI: 10.1017/S0031182021000421

Huertas-López A., Martínez-Subiela S., Cerón J.J., Vázquez-Calvo Á., Pazmiño-Bonilla E.D., López-Ureña N.M., Martínez-Carrasco C., Álvarez-García G. (2021) Development and validation of a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in goats. Veterinary Parasitology 293, 109432. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109432.

Marstrand, J., Kurtzhals, JAL., Fuchs, HJ., Nielsen, HV., Jokelainen, P. (2021). The disease burden of ocular toxoplasmosis in Denmark in 2019: Estimates based on laboratory testing of ocular samples and on publicly available register data. Parasite Epidemiology and Control. 15, e00229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00229

Olsen, A., Denwood, M., Houe, H., Birk Jensen, T., Nielsen, HV. (2021). A longitudinal study of Toxoplasma gondii seroconversion on four large Danish sow farms. Veterinary Parasitology.  295, 109460. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109460

Berg, RPKD., Stensvold, CR., Jokelainen, P., Grønlund, AK., Nielsen, HV., Kutz, S., Kapel CMO. (2021). Zoonotic pathogens in wild muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) from Greenland. Veterinary Medicine and Science. 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.599

Stollberg, K.C., Schares, G., Mayer-Scholl, A., Hrushetska, I., Diescher, S., Johne, A., Richter, M.H., Bier, N.S. (2021). Comparison of Direct and Indirect Toxoplasma gondii Detection and Genotyping in Game: Relationship and Challenges. Microorganisms. 9, 1663. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081663

Fernández-Escobar, M., Calero-Bernal, R., Regidor-Cerrillo, J., Vallejo, R., Benavides, J., Collantes-Fernández, E., Ortega-Mora, LM. (2021). In vivo and in vitro models show unexpected degrees of virulence among Toxoplasma gondii type II and III isolates from sheep. Veterinary Research. 52:82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567‑021‑00953‑7

Schares, G., Joeres, M., Rachel, F., Tuschy, M., Czirják, GÁ., Maksimov, P., Conraths, FJ., Wachter, B. (2021). Molecular analysis suggests that Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are definitive hosts of a so far undescribed Besnoitia species. Parasites and Vectors. 14, 201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04697-3

Fabian, B. T., Lepenies, B., Schares, G., Dubey, J. P., Spano, F., Seeber, F. (2021). Expanding the Known Repertoire of C-Type Lectin Receptors Binding to Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts Using a Modified High-Resolution Immunofluorescence Assay. mSphere. 6:e01341-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.01341-20

Verkola, M., Järvelä, T., Järvinen, A., Jokelainen, P., Virtala, A.-M., Kinnunen, P. M., Heikinheimo, A. (2021).
Infection prevention and control practices of ambulatory veterinarians: A questionnaire study in Finland. Veterinary Medicine and Science. p1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.464

Nedişan, M. E., Györke, A., Ştefănuţ, C. L., Kalmár, Z., Friss, Z., Blaga, R., Blaizot, A., Toma-Naic, A., Mircean, V.; Schares, G., Djurković-Djaković, O., Klun, I., Villena, I., Cozma, V. (2021). Experimental Infection with Toxoplasma gondii in Broiler Chickens (Gallus Domesticus): Seroconversion, Tissue Cyst Distribution, and Prophylaxis. Parasitology Research. 120, pp 593- 603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06984-x

Schares, G., Globokar Vrhovec, M., Tuschy, M., Joeres, M., Bärwald, A., Koudela, B., Dubey, J. P., Maksimov, P., Conraths, F. J. (2021). A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the specific detection of Hammondia hammondi and its differentiation from Toxoplasma gondiiParasites and Vectors. 15, 74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04571-8

Slana, I., Bier, N., Bartosova, B., Marucci, G.,Possenti, P., Mayer-Scholl, A., Jokelainen, P., Lalle, M. (2021). Molecular Methods for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts in Fresh Produce: An Extensive Review. Microorganisms. 9 (1), 167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010167

Fernández-Escobar, M., Calero-Bernal, R., Regidor-Cerrillo, J., Vallejo, R., Benavides, J., Collantes-Fernández, E., Ortega-Mora, LM. (2020). Isolation, Genotyping, and Mouse Virulence Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii From Free Ranging Iberian Pigs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 7:604782. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.604782

Klein, S., Stern, D., Seeber, F. (2020). Expression of in vivo biotinylated recombinant antigens SAG1 and SAG2A from Toxoplasma gondii for improved seroepidemiological bead-based multiplex assays. BMC Biotechnology. 20, 53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12896-020-00646-7

Fernández-Escobar, M., Calero-Bernal, R., Benavides, J., Regidor-Cerrillo, J., Guerrero-Molina, M. C., Gutiérrez-Expósito, D., Collantes-Fernández, E., Ortega-Mora, L. M. (2020) Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in Spanish sheep flocks. Parasites and Vectors. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04275-z

Fabian, B. T., Hedar, F., Koethe, M., Bangoura, B., Maksimov, P., Conraths, F. J., Villena, I., Aubert, D., Seeber, F., Schares, G. (2020). Fluorescent bead-based serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens. Parasites and Vectors. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04244-6

Project

Project Events

TOXOSOURCES Kick-off meeting- 3rd-4th February 2020

One Health EJP Project Kick-off meeting- 13th November 2019, Berlin, Germany

Annual meeting, Part 1- June 2021

Annual meeting, Part 2- November 2021

Final meeting- December 2022

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