Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can infect humans and other animals, including cattle. Cattle are one of the world’s main sources of meat, and people who consume raw or undercooked meat and milk of cattle infected with T. gondii can become infected. In this study, a total of 5292 dairy cattle serum samples, collected from 17 cities (Henan Province, China) from January 2015 to September 2017, were screened for antibodies against T. gondii.ResultsAntibodies to T. gondii were found in 1.93% (102/5292) (95% CI, 1.56–2.30) of dairy cattle using a modified agglutination test (cut-off 1:100). The results showed that geographic location and season may be risk factors for T. gondii infection of cattle (P < 0.05), and the seroprevalence of T. gondii in cattle along the Yellow River is higher than other areas.ConclusionsThis is the first large-scale investigation on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in cattle from Central China. This survey shows that the T. gondii infection rate of dairy cattle is low; however, these findings provide additional information on the epidemiology of Chinese T. gondii. The possibility of dairy cattle exposure to T. gondii in Central China can not be ignored, and the consumption of raw or undercooked beef or milk may pose a risk to human health.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can infect humans and other animals, including cattle
Our survey indicated that 1.93% (102/,5292) of the examined dairy cattle were seropositive for T. gondii infection by modified agglutination test (MAT), with titers of 1:100 in 102 cattle, 1:200 in 40, 1:400 in 21, 1:800 in 17, 1:1600 in 12, and 1:3200 in 7 (Table 1)
The seroprevalence rates of T. gondii varied with regions
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can infect humans and other animals, including cattle. Cattle are one of the world’s main sources of meat, and people who consume raw or undercooked meat and milk of cattle infected with T. gondii can become infected. Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide variety of host species, including cattle [1]. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection varies among host species. Cattle appear to be poor hosts for T. gondii, T. gondii can still infect cattle and viable T. gondii strain had been isolated from the intestines of naturally infected cows [2, 3]. Cattle infected with T. gondii pose a risk for toxoplasmosis in people who consume raw or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk [4]. T. gondii can cause encephalitis, retinitis, newborn hydrocephalus [1, 5], and even death [6].
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