Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii infection may pose a severe medical problem especially in a congenital form and as an acquired infection in immunocompromised persons. Raw and undercooked meat of slaughtered animals is regarded as an important source of parasite infection; however, data concerning this issue in Poland are still insufficient. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs and cattle slaughtered for human consumption in Poland using serological and molecular methods.MethodsSera of 3111 pigs and 2411 cattle from 16 regions (voivodeships) of the country were examined for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG using the direct agglutination test (DAT). Pepsin-digested samples of diaphragm and heart of seropositive animals were examined for the presence of T. gondii DNA (B1 gene) by nested PCR and real-time PCR, while non-digested samples were only examined by nested PCR. The B1 gene DNA samples were genotyped at 11 genetic markers using multilocus nested PCR-RFLP (Mn-PCR-RFLP) and sequencing.ResultsSeropositive DAT results were found in 11.9% of pigs and 13.0% of cattle. The highest seroprevalence was found in pigs from Podkarpackie (32.6%) and in cattle from Mazowieckie (44.6%). Data analysis showed that cattle > 5–10 years-old, as well as cattle and pigs from small farms, and pigs from farms with open production systems, had higher odds of testing seropositive (P < 0.05). Among the examined tissue samples, positive PCR results were found in samples from 12.2% and 10.2% of seropositive pigs and cattle, respectively. Among the samples successfully genotyped by Mn-PCR-RFLP and sequenced, four samples were identified as T. gondii type II and one sample as type I.ConclusionsThe presence of T. gondii antibodies in a substantial proportion of examined pigs and cattle as well as the detection of parasite DNA in their tissues highlight a potential health risk to the consumers in Poland.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii infection may pose a severe medical problem especially in a congenital form and as an acquired infection in immunocompromised persons
To evaluate potential risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, information regarding the geographical origin of animals, farm size, age, sex, and rearing category of animals, was collected by the Veterinary Inspectorate by means of a standardized form
The highest seroprevalence was found in pigs from the Podkarpackie region (32.6%), and the lowest was found in pigs from the Pomorskie region (1.0%)
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infection may pose a severe medical problem especially in a congenital form and as an acquired infection in immunocompromised persons. Raw and undercooked meat of slaughtered animals is regarded as an important source of parasite infection; data concerning this issue in Poland are still insuf‐ ficient. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs and cattle slaughtered for human consumption in Poland using serological and molecular methods. Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasite protozoan that infects warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The overall incidence of human toxoplasmosis in Poland may still be underestimated, as other clinical forms of toxoplasmosis (i.e. lymphadenopathy, chorioretinitis and neurotoxoplasmosis) are not recorded. Raw or undercooked meat (mainly pork) with tissue cysts containing bradyzoites, is considered a major source of human T. gondii infections in Europe and the USA [5]. Infection with T. gondii in animals may constitute a serious veterinary problem, as the parasite is associated with the occurrence of stillbirths or pathological symptoms in newborns, especially in sheep [6, 9]
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