Detection of Specific IgG-Antibodies Against Toxoplasma gondii in the Serum and Milk of Domestic Donkeys During Lactation in China: A Potential Public Health Concern

Long Chen,Qing-Feng Meng,Zi-Jian Zhao

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.760400

Long Chen, Qing-Feng Meng + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.760400

Copy DOI

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide zoonotic protozoan. Donkeys are often susceptible to many pathological agents, acting as carriers of pathogens for other animal species and humans. However, data on the prevalence of T. gondii in donkeys during lactation and on the status of antibodies against T. gondii in donkey milk are lacking. A cross-sectional study evaluated the variation of the anti-T. gondii antibodies in the blood and milk of domestic donkeys during lactation. A total of 418 domestic donkeys were randomly selected from the Shandong province, eastern China from January 2019 to March 2020. The anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 11.72% (49/418) serum and 9.81% (41/418) milk samples using a commercial ELISA kit, respectively. There was a very high consistency between the serum and milk (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.858, p-value < 0.0001 and Kendall’s tau = 0.688, p-value < 0.0001), particularly at the 45th to 60th day of lactation. The present results of the statistical analysis showed that the history of abortion (p = 0.026; adjusted OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.15–4.20) and cat in the house (p = 0.008; adjusted OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.26–4.44) were significantly associated with T. gondii infection in the domestic donkeys. This is the first report to detect antibodies against T. gondii in donkey milk in China. These results indicate a potential risk of humans contracting the infection through the consumption of raw milk from the naturally infected donkeys.

Highlights

Toxoplasmosis is a very important and prevalent foodborne parasitic disease, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, infecting all warm-blooded animals including human beings, livestock, birds, and marine mammals (Dubey, 2010)
T. gondii infection does not result in obvious clinical symptoms
11.72% (49/418) serum samples and 9.81% (41/418) milk samples were found to be positive for the anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis is a very important and prevalent foodborne parasitic disease, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, infecting all warm-blooded animals including human beings, livestock, birds, and marine mammals (Dubey, 2010). T. gondii infection does not result in obvious clinical symptoms. The T. gondii infection occurring in pregnant women, organ transplant. Toxoplasma gondii in Donkey’s Milk patients, and patients with immune deficiency triggers severe clinical symptoms and even death (Montoya and Liesenfeld, 2004). The infection occurs mainly in three ways: congenital transmission, organ transplant/blood transfusion, and through food and water contaminated by either of the three forms of this parasite (tachyzoite, cysts, and oocysts) (Tenter et al, 2000). Raw or undercooked meat, contaminated milk, and unwashed fruit vegetables can induce this parasitic infection (Pinto-Ferreira et al, 2019). No reports suggest evidence of T. gondii infection due to the consumption of donkey’s milk, and raw goat’s milk has been proven to be associated with the T. gondii infection in humans in clinical practice (Camossi et al, 2011)

Objectives

Methods

Results