Abstract
During the Muslim feast of Sacrifice (Eid Al-Adha), DNA of Toxoplasma gondii was screened in the heart apex of 70 sheep belonging to different households in Sousse region (North-East of Tunisia) by nested PCR.DNA of T. gondii was identified in 5.7% of the samples. To study different risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii transmission that can be present especially for this occasion, a questionnaire was established. It revealed that the majority of households (92.9%) slaughtered a sheep aged less than 1 year old. Moreover, 2% of the study population consumed undercooked meat. This study showed also that the majority of meat handlers did not respect the hygiene rules, since 91% of them did not wash their hands after handling and before preparing or consuming food. The presence of the definitive host (cats) is considered among the factors that increase the risk of Toxoplasma infection. It was recorded in 14% of the households with the presence of elements that increases the risk as defecating in the house and eating raw meat during Eid Al-Adha feast. Our results show that the risk factors of Toxoplasma infection increase during this occasion; it requires the establishment of a sanitary education programme during this feast.
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