Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among slaughtered pigs, cattle and goats for human consumption in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a major foodborne infectious disease with substantial adverse impact on population health and economy. Human infection is usually secondary to the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked meat. Recent studies have reported a high prevalence of the infection in slaughterhouse animals in sub-Saharan Africa but few data exist for Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in animal from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. A total of 962 animal (including 423 pigs, 197 cattle and 342 goats) blood samples were collected in slaughterhouses in Bobo-Dioulasso between August 2013 and May 2014. Serum samples were tested for T. gondii antibody detection using the modified agglutination test (MAT). The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 28.8% in pigs, 13.2% in cattle and 34.8% in goats. Females animals were more infected than males. More than 60% of older animals (higher than 5 year-old animals) were infected. The study reported a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs, cattle, and goats in Bobo-Dioulasso and is, therefore, of public health concern. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat should be regarded as an important risk factor for T. gondii infection in the study area. However further studies are needed to design appropriate control measures. Key words: Pigs, cattle, goats, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma gondii, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.