Toxoplasma gondii infection in meat-producing small ruminants: Meat juice serology and genotyping. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gazzonis, Alessia Libera; Zanzani, Sergio Aurelio; Villa, Luca; Manfredi, Maria Teresa
• Is Part Of: Parasitology international. Volume 76(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Toxoplasmosis -- Sheep -- Goats -- Serology -- Genotyping -- B1 gene; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Parasitic Diseases -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; 571.99905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1383-5769

Abstract

Abstract: The consumption of ovine and caprine meat is considered one of the major transmission routes for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans. The present study aimed at obtaining epidemiological and molecular data on T. gondii infection in small ruminants slaughtered or commercialized in Italy. Meat juices from 227 sheep and 51 goats were analyzed with a commercial ELISA and antibodies were detected in 28.6% sheep and 27.5% goats. A significant difference was highlighted between adult sheep and the other considered categories (young sheep, young and adult goats) concerning the detection of antibodies (94.1%; p -value = .008). Muscles of positives samples were submitted to molecular analysis, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 15 sheep and three goats; sequencing of B1 gene showed that all belonged to Type II. The present study confirmed small ruminants' meat as a possible source of T. gondii infection for consumers eating raw or undercooked meat, particularly in those countries where the consumption of sheep and goats' meat products is a traditional gastronomic habit. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Toxoplasma gondii infection in 278 slaughtered small ruminants was investigated in Italy. T. gondii seroprevalence in sheep and goats was 28.6% and 27.5%, respectively. T. gondii DNA was detected in muscle samples of 15 sheep and 3 goats. Sequencing of a region within B1 gene revealed genotype II in all examined samples. Small ruminants' meat was confirmed as an important source of human T. gondii infection.