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Free-range chickens are infected by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) mainly when they pick-up their food from the ground. The present study was performed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii in free-range chicken meat (breast and thigh muscles) and their offal (heart and gizzard). The molecular characterization and the phylogeny of T. gondii amplicons were also investigated. Two PCRs were compared, the first targeting B1 gene and a nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 gene. Among the 60 tested birds, 47 free-range chickens had at least one positive PCR, i.e., a prevalence of 78.3% (95% CI: 67.9–88.7%). The prevalence of T. gondii infection in muscles and organs analyzed by specific PCR targeting B1 gene (43.3%; 95% CI: 37–49.6%) was significantly higher than those analyzed for ITS-1 gene detection (15%; 95%CI: 10.4–19.5%) (p < 0.001). Heart samples had the highest T. gondii infection prevalence, as well as targeting either B1 gene (48.3%; 95% CI: 35.6–60.9%) or ITS-1 gene (21.6%; 95% CI: 11.2–32%). The present study showed that the consumption of undercooked free-range chicken meat represents a high risk for seronegative pregnant women. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed homology with wild and domestic birds and domestic mammals and a large geographic distribution.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. It is worldwide distributed in all warm-blooded vertebrates including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the current data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in North Africa. Distribution patterns and risk factors for Toxoplasma infection were also discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt).

Tortoises of the genus Testudo are the main hosts of Hyalomma aegyptium ticks. This species serves as a vector of several zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of four pathogens associated with H. aegyptium ticks obtained from tortoises from Tunisia. Conventional, multiplex and nested PCRs were used for Aanaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Coxiella burnetii and Babesia spp. screening. The molecular analyses revealed the presence of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. None of the ticks, were infected by E. canis or C. burnetii species. Co-infection was detected in four ticks. As a conclusion, this is the first detection of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in H. aegyptium ticks collected from tortoises, in Tunisia. Thus, considering these results, the spur-thighed tortoise constitute a potential host of H. aegyptium which plays an important role in the transmission of pathogenic agents affecting both human and animals. In term of public health, a strict control and surveillance should be carried to reduce the circulation of such pathogens between different hosts.

Cattle piroplasmoses are tick-borne diseases, spread worldwide that cause significant economic losses. A participatory epidemiological study was conducted individually or in focus groups with 73 cattle owners in Beni Hamidene locality (district of Constantine, Algeria). The aim of this study was to study cattle owners’ knowledge, attitude and perception on cattle piroplasmosis. Proportional piling technique was used to determinate most common cattle diseases, and to evaluate economic impact of diseases according to the interwieved farmers. Theileriosis (49/73; 67.1%) and babesiosis (44/73; 60.3%) were considered the most important bovine diseases. No zoonotic disease was cited by the interviewed cattle owners. According to the majority of cattle owners, theileriosis and babesiosis are deadly diseases (87.3 and 78.1%, respectively). All cattle owners (73/73) cited fever as the most common symptom of tropical theileriosis. Some of them (14/73; 19.2%) do not make distinction between theileriosis and babesiosis. According to cattle owners (65/73; 89.0%), the use of acaricide is the most appropriate tick control method. This study provides information about knowledge on bovine piroplasmoses in Algeria. These information could be considered when performing control programmes by both animal decision-makers and field veterinarians.

In this study, we report the results of a survey of Hyalomma ticks infesting one-humped camels in southern Tunisia. Examinations were conducted every second or third month on 406 camels in Tataouine district from April 2018 to October 2019. A total of 1902 ticks belonging to the genus Hyalomma were collected. The ticks were identified as adult H. impeltatum (41.1%; n = 782), H. dromedarii (32.9%; n = 626), H. excavatum (25.9%; n = 493), and [H. marginatum for a single specimen. Although the camels were infested by ticks throughout the year, the highest overall infestation prevalence was observed in April 2018 (p < 0.01). The overall infestation intensity varied between 2.7 and 7.4 ticks/animal. There were no statistically significant differences in tick infestation prevalence based on age categories of the camels, and the overall infestation prevalence was between 82.7% and 97.4%. Female camels were significantly more infested with ticks (88.3%) than males (65.5%) (p < 0.01). The infestation prevalence of camels varied significantly according to the region where sampling took place (p < 0.01), but no correlations were found with abiotic factors. The preferred attachment sites for adult Hyalomma ticks were the sternum (38.3%; n = 729/1902), around the anus (36.2%; n = 689/1902), udder (18.4%; n = 350/1902), and inner thigh (6.9%; n = 132/1902). Morphological classification of ticks was corroborated by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase I (Cox1) and 16S rDNA genes, and these sequences were also used to infer phylogenetic relationships. A single H. dromedarii seemed to be a natural hybrid with H. rufipes. More attention should be devoted by the veterinary services to the infestation of camels by ticks.

The molecular and serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was investigated among rodents living in desertic areas in the Tataouine district, in the south of Tunisia. A total number of 43 rodents were captured from four sites classified as arid and Saharan climatic zones. Sera, hearts, spleens and brains were collected from each rodent. Sera were tested for the presence of anti‐T. gondii IgG by the ELISA technique. PCR was used to detect T. gondii DNA from different tissues. Two rodent species were identified as Ctenodactylus gundi (Rodentia, Ctenodactylidae) (N = 28; 65%) and Psammomys obesus (Rodentia, Muridae) (N = 15; 35%). The overall molecular prevalence of T. gondii was 39% (17/43). Infection prevalences were higher in C. gundi (53.6%; 15/28) compared to P. obesus (13.3%; 2/15). In both species, the brain was the most infected organ (p = 0.02). No significant difference was recorded for the two rodent species according to gender and sampling sites (p > 0.05). The overall seroprevalence was up to 34.9% (15/43). It was higher in C. gundi (43%; 12/28) compared to P. obesus (20; 3/15) (p = 0.02). These results highlight a high infection level of T. gondii in desertic rodents. More investigations are required to understand the role of other desertic mammals and to identify the genotype circulating in the Tunisian Sahara. Rodents play a critical role in the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii as intermediate hosts. Molecular and serological results reveal a high infection rate in two species of desert rodents.

The levels of metallic trace elements were determined in fishery products sampled from Tunisian fishing ports. Mean concentrations were 0.20 ± 0.01, 0.05 ± 0.01, and 0.10 ± 0.01 mg/kg in fish flesh for Hg, Cd, and Pb, respectively. The mean concentrations of these elements were below regulatory thresholds; however, we also detected some specimens with higher levels. The mercury level showed a significant difference between fish categories, region, and year of sampling (p < 0.05). Samples from the center sites had the highest levels of Pb (0.17 ± 0.03 mg/kg; range 0.10; 0.22 mg/kg). Temporal analysis of Pb showed a significant difference between sampling year (p < 0.05). In addition, distribution among fish categories was statistically significant (p = 0.046). The rates of samples exceeding limits of Hg, Cd, and Pb were 5.3, 2.6, and 0.4%, respectively. Through the above results, the maximum weekly and monthly intakes for fish flesh consumption could not exceed the set limits. These data were important to inform consumers about fish content and the risk generated by some of these species.

Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite from the phylum Apicomplexa, mainly associated with abortions and causing enormous economic losses. We aimed, by the present study, to estimate the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic analyses of natural infection with N. caninum in Tunisian goats. A total number of 121 meat samples were collected from slaughtered goats in the regional slaughterhouse of Béja (Northwest Tunisia) and tested from N. caninum ITS1 gene using PCR followed by sequencing of PCR products. Phylogenetic analyses were used to identify this parasite infecting goats in Nortwest Tunisia. The overall molecular prevalence was 19% (23/121). The highest molecular prevalence of N. caninum was observed in goats aged between 2 and 4 years (31.9 ± 13.27%) (P = 0.004). There was no difference in the overall molecular prevalence of N. caninum according to both localities and animal breeds. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 99–100% similarity with GenBank sequences. A high similarity with all the blasted genotypes was reported for N. caninum sequences. This is the first molecular study and genetic characterisation of N. caninum in North African goats.

Background Neospora caninum has been documented to infect most domestic wildlife but is known to primarily infect dogs and cattle and is considered an important cause of abortion in camels. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the molecular detection of Neospora caninum in tissues of naturally infected camelids. Methods Brain, tongue (bottom and tip) and masseter muscles from 35 slaughtered camelids from Tataouine and Médenine regions were collected (n = 140 samples). PCR was used to amplify and detect N. caninum DNA in tissues samples followed by sequencing of some PCR products. A phylogenetic tree was then constructed to compare the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene with GenBank sequences. Histopathology examination was used to detect Neospora spp. cysts, but no lesions were observed. Results The overall molecular detection of N. caninum in camelids was 34.3% (12/35). The highest molecular detection of N. caninum was recorded in animals of more than 3 years old (6/9) and in animals aged between 1 and 3 years old (4/12). Whilst, the lowest molecular detection (2/14) was observed in animals 1 year or younger (p = 0.035). There were no significant differences in molecular detection of N. caninum according to both locality and gender (p > 0.05). Similarly, there was no difference of prevalence between different anatomical locations. Comparison of the partial sequences of the ITS1 gene revealed 100–95.5% similarity among our N. caninum amplicon (MW551566) and those deposited in GenBank. Conclusion These results highlight the presence of a risk infection by N. caninum in camels. For preventing N. caninum infection further studies are needed to improve our knowledge about the epidemiology of neosporosis in North Africa. In Tunisia camels represents the first animal production of arid zones, with poor and/or halophyte vegetation. Despite their social and economic importance in remote Tunisian Saharan region, little is known about camel diseases and there are no data about the molecular detection of N. caninum in camels in Tunisia. The present study is the first to detect of N. caninum DNA in Tunisian dromedary camels slaughtered in the regional slaughterhouse of Médenine and Tataouine (Southern Tunisia).

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis with high impact on human and animal health. Consumption of unpasteurized milk is a risk factor of human toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of T. gondii in goats’ milk in Northwest of Tunisia (Jendouba Governorate). A total number of 77 blood samples were collected from six herds were screened with a commercial ELISA kit for T. gondii antibodies. For the same goats’ samples, a nested PCR was performed to detect T. gondii DNA in milk. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 31.2% (±0.05) while the molecular prevalence of this parasite in milk was estimated to 7.8% (±0.03). A very low value of kappa showed that there is not agreement between seroprevalence and parasite prevalence in milk. These results suggest that the consumption of raw milk from naturally infected goats is a potential source of human infection. An extension programme should be implemented to decrease related to goats’ raw milk consumption. We estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and the molecular prevalence in goat's milk samples. The seroprevalence was 31.2% and the prevalence was 7.8%. The consumption of raw milk from infected goats may present a source of human infection by toxoplasmosis.