Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughtered ruminants (sheep, goats and cattle) in Northwest Tunisia

• Published in: Meat science Vol. 133; pp. 180 - 184
• Main Authors: Amdouni, Yosra, Rjeibi, Mohamed Ridha, Rouatbi, Mariem, Amairia, Safa, Awadi, Sofia, Gharbi, Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; DNA, Protozoan; Goat Diseases - epidemiology; Goat Diseases - parasitology; Goats; Meat; Meat - parasitology; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Prevalence; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; Toxoplasma - genetics; Toxoplasma - isolation & purification; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - epidemiology; Tunisia; Tunisia - epidemiology; Sheep; Toxoplasma gondii; Goats; Cattle; Tunisia; Meat
• ISSN: 0309-1740; 1873-4138
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.07.004

The present study aimed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii infection in meat from slaughtered sheep, goats and cattle in Northwest Tunisia (Béja district). PCRs were performed on genomic DNA extracted from 420 meat samples (150 ewes, 120 goats and 150 cows). The overall molecular prevalence of T. gondii in sheep, goats and cattle were 33.3 (50/150), 32.5 (39/120) and 19.3% (29/150), respectively. Toxoplasma gondii molecular prevalences in the three meat ruminant species were significantly higher in adults compared to young animals (p<0.001). The infection prevalence differed significantly within localities in sheep (p<0.001), goats (p<0.001) and cattle (p=0.019). These results provide important information about exposure of humans to T. gondii through the consumption of raw or undercooked ruminants' meat. Extension programmes should be implemented to decrease the risk of infection related to sheep, goats and cattle meat manipulation and raw or undercooked meat consumption. •The molecular prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered sheep, goats and cattle collected from North-West Tunisia was estimated.•The molecular prevalence in sheep, goats and cattle were 33.3 (50/150), 32.5 (39/120) and 19.3% (29/150), respectively•Toxoplasma gondii meat cysts must be considered as an important source of infection in humans