@article{fdi:010081004,
  title = {{A} hotspot of {T}oxoplasma gondii {A}frica 1 lineage in {B}enin : how new genotypes from {W}est {A}frica contribute to understand the parasite genetic diversity worldwide},
  author = {{H}amidovic, {A}. and {E}tougbetche, {J}. {R}. and {T}onouhewa, {A}. {B}. {N}. and {G}alal, {L}. and {D}obigny, {G}authier and {H}ouemenou, {G}. and {D}a {Z}oclanclounon, {H}. and {A}magbegnon, {R}. and {L}aleye, {A}. and {F}ievet, {N}adine and {P}iry, {S}. and {B}erthier, {K}. and {P}ena, {H}. {F}. {J}. and {D}arde, {M}. {L}. and {M}ercier, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}uthor summary {T}he parasite {T}oxoplasma gondii is a worldwide-distributed pathogen, able to infect all warm-blooded animals. {T}here are important differences in the clinical expression of the infection in direct relation with the parasite genetic profile. {I}n some regions, the geographical structuration of its genetic diversity points towards a crucial role of human activities in some lineages introduction or sorting. {B}enin is a {W}est {A}frican country with a history of extensive transcontinental exchanges. {O}ur genetic study of {T}oxoplasma in {B}enin shows a surprisingly homogeneous and autochthonous diversity, which contrasts with previous studies from other {W}est and {C}entral {A}frican countries. {I}n {B}enin, the absence of {E}uropean {T}oxoplasma lineages may be explained by the extreme rarity of the house mouse ({M}us musculus), a host species that was previously described as highly susceptible to the mouse-virulent {A}frican strains. {M}ight {B}enin be the origin region for the {A}frica 1 lineage, our results suggest that {G}uinean {G}ulf coasts may be a starting point of this lineage towards {S}outh {A}merica, especially {B}razil, during the slave trade. {A}s a whole, the present study provides further insights into the recent evolutionary history of {T}oxoplasma gondii and its consequences on human and animal health. {T}hrough international trades, {E}urope, {A}frica and {S}outh {A}merica share a long history of exchanges, potentially of pathogens. {W}e used the worldwide parasite {T}oxoplasma gondii to test the hypothesis of a historical influence on pathogen genetic diversity in {B}enin, a {W}est {A}frican country with a longstanding sea trade history. {I}n {A}frica, {T}. gondii spatial structure is still non-uniformly studied and very few articles have reported strain genetic diversity in fauna and clinical forms of human toxoplasmosis so far, even in {A}frican diaspora. {S}era from 758 domestic animals (mainly poultry) in two coastal areas ({C}otonou and {O}uidah) and two inland areas ({P}arakou and {N}atitingou) were tested for {T}. gondii antibodies using a {M}odified {A}gglutination {T}est ({MAT}). {T}he hearts and brains of 69 seropositive animals were collected for parasite isolation in a mouse bioassay. {F}orty-five strains were obtained and 39 genotypes could be described via 15-microsatellite genotyping, with a predominance of the autochthonous {A}frican lineage {A}frica 1 (36/39). {T}he remaining genotypes were {A}frica 4 variant {TUB}2 (1/39) and two identical isolates (clone) of {T}ype {III} (2/39). {N}o difference in terms of genotype distribution between inland and coastal sampling sites was found. {I}n particular, contrarily to what has been described in {S}enegal, no type {II} (mostly present in {E}urope) was isolated in poultry from coastal cities. {T}his result seems to refute a possible role of {E}uropean maritime trade in {B}enin despite it was one of the most important hubs during the slave trade period. {H}owever, the presence of the {A}frica 1 genotype in {B}razil, predominant in {B}enin, and genetic analyses suggest that the triangular trade was a route for the intercontinental dissemination of genetic strains from {A}frica to {S}outh {A}merica. {T}his supports the possibility of contamination in humans and animals with potentially imported virulent strains.},
  keywords = {{BENIN} ; {MONDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {e0008980 [16 ]},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0008980},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010081004},
}