Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Correspondence , Christophe J. Email: cdarnau clemson. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to study the fate and transport of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soils as a function of soil physicochemical properties and soil water chemistry properties. Soil columns were homogeneously packed with loamy sand soils Lewiston and Greenson series and sandy loam soils Sparta and Gilford series , and subject to hydrologic conditions characterized by the absence and presence of an anionic surfactantβAerosol 22 in the artificial rainfall.
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction qPCR was utilized for the detection and enumeration of oocysts in soil leachates to evaluate their breakthrough and in soil matrices to examine their spatial distribution. Differences in the rate and extent of transport of oocysts were observed as a function of physical and chemical parameters tested. The breakthrough of oocysts was observed for all the soils irrespective of the presence of surfactant.
However, in the absence of surfactant, the predominant fate of oocysts in soils subject to simulated rainfall was their retention in the soil profile. The presence of surfactant induced a change in the fate of oocysts in these soils exposed to rainfall simulation as the predominant fate of oocysts was found to be in the soil leachates.
In contrast, felids are the only natural hosts known to support the sexual multiplication of the parasite Di Genova et al. It occurs within their intestinal epithelium and results in the production and faecal excretion of millions of an environmentally resistant form called the oocyst.
The oocyst wall is highly proteinaceous with a lipid coating. It has a negative surface charge that likely contributes to the diffusion of the oocysts in fresh waters Shapiro et al. Oocysts ingested accidentally with soil particles, fresh products and waters contaminated by cat faeces can lead to T. In turn, infected animals are important reservoirs of transmission for people eating raw or undercooked meat that may contain infectious cysts Tenter et al.
