Consumption Of Raw Meat Research Articles

Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant Antigens in the Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis in Domestic and Farm Animals.

Simple SummaryThe very common parasite infections in animals are caused by members of Apicomplexa, including Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora sp., and Sarcocystis sp. These parasites pose serious veterinary problems. For example, the development of unambiguous diagnostic algorithms and determining the correct diagnosis are hindered by the similar antigenic structure of these parasites, as well as the multitude of similar disease symptoms presented in an infected animal. The intracellular parasite, T. gondii, infects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. This parasite is widespread among different animal populations, contributes to the loss of reproductive and malformations in young individuals, and can become a serious economic concern for farmers. Additionally, the consumption of undercooked or raw meat and the consumption of improperly processed milk product derived from farm animals are the main parasite transmission routes in humans. This work reviews potential improvements to diagnostic techniques that use recombinant antigens for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in various species of animals.Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, and is a parasitic disease that occurs in all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases of animals and results in reproductive losses. Toxoplasmosis in humans is usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat or consuming dairy products containing the parasite. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is currently based on serological assays using native antigens to detect specific anti-T. gondii antibodies. Due to the high price, the available commercial agglutination assays are not suited to test a large number of animal serum samples. The recent development of proteomics elucidated the antigenic structure of T. gondii and enabled the development of various recombinant antigens that can be used in new, cheaper, and more effective diagnostic tools. Continuous development of scientific disciplines, such as molecular biology and genetic engineering, allows for the production of new recombinant antigens and provides the basis for new diagnostic tests for the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in animal serum samples.

Bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis in a rural community in Ethiopia.

Bovine cysticercosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease that affects cattle caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia saginata, the adult parasite that causes taeniasis in humans. Although bovine cysticercosis, and the associated human taeniasis, is controlled in developed countries, it is one of the neglected tropical diseases. Like other parts of Ethiopia, raw or undercooked beef consumption is common in the rural community of Yem district with no meat inspection services. We conducted an abattoir survey to estimate the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle and a questionnaire survey to determine the level of historical human taeniasis infection in Yem district of Ethiopia. Bovine cysticercosis was detected in 3.1% of 485 cattle examined. Although animal level prevalence was low, a subset of positive animals had a higher rate of cysticercosis infection widely distributed in various parts of the body. Over two-fifths (40%) of the cysts were found in the tongue making it an important organ to look for during meat inspection. Over half of the cysts were viable indicating their potential to infect people. History of taeniasis was reported by 71.5% of 151 residents interviewed during the study. Raw meat consumption was very common (89.4%) among the residents; people who consumed raw meat were 25 times more likely to report taeniasis than those who did not. In addition, traditional treatments using herbs and chemicals of unknown efficacy and risk were very common. Bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis are important in this rural community. Providing meat inspection services and public health education on intervention measures such as proper cooking of meat, access to latrines and clean water are effective strategies that can break the lifecycle of the parasite and ensure beef safety and public health.

Inactivation of Toxoplasma gondii Bradyzoites after Salt Exposure during Preparation of Dry-Cured Hams

Foodborne pathogens continue to pose a public health risk and can cause serious illness and significant outbreaks of disease in consumers. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide and is caused by the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat, including pork, that contains infectious stages of T. gondii has been regarded as a major route of T. gondii transmission to humans. Given the occasional presence of T. gondii in pork meat, the frequent use of pork for products not intended to be cooked, such as dry-cured ham, presents a potential risk for its transmission to consumers. In this study, we investigated the viability of T. gondii in dry-cured whole hams processed using methods that were previously required for treatment of hams to inactivate Trichinella spiralis in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR 318.10) and are now described in guidance documents from the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service. Infected pork hams were salted and cured for 33 days at 3°C and 85% ± 5% relative humidity (RH) and then were dried for up to 12 months at 12°C and 67.5% ± 2.5% RH. Inactivation of T. gondii was assessed in mouse bioassays and, serologically, by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Results showed that T. gondii bradyzoites were inactivated during the salting and curing step (33 days); no viable T. gondii was detected in the mouse bioassay and no evidence of serological conversion was detected by MAT in any of the mice inoculated with any of the samples tested during the drying step over the 12 months of the experiment. These results demonstrated that the approved protocols for production of dry-cured hams validated herein can inactivate T. gondii and lower the risk to consumers of this product.

Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and schizophrenia in the Lebanese population: potential implication of genetic polymorphism of MMP-9

BackgroundToxoplasma multiplication and its persistence into the brain cause a local neuroinflammatory reaction, resulting synthesis of neurotransmitters involved in neurological disorders, especially schizophrenia. The Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) protein can play a major role in this neuroinflammation. It can promote extravasation and migration of infected immune cells into the brain. The objectives of this study are to determine the possible association between schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis and highlight the existence of gene polymorphism encoding MMP-9 protein’s in patients presented both schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis.MethodsA case-control study was conducted on 150 patients with schizophrenia (case group), and 150 healthy persons (control group). Groups were matched with age, gender, and place of residence. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire and a serological profile assay for specific IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of gene polymorphism encoding MMP-9 was performed on 83 cases selected randomly.ResultsData show a significant association between toxoplasmosis (IgM+/IgG+ serological profile) and schizophrenia. Significant effects of raw meat consumption and contact with cats have been associated with the occurrence of schizophrenia. PCR-RFLP shows the presence of muted allele of MMP-9 gene in selected cases whose present T. gondii serological profile IgM+/IgG+ and IgM-/IgG+ respectively.ConclusionToxoplasmosis may be one of the etiological causes of schizophrenia, and MMP-9 gene polymorphism could be involved in the occurrence mechanism of this pathology following Toxoplasma infection.

The first analysis of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi adult worm excretory-secretory proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with LC-MS/MS

The two most common Trichinella species present in European countries are Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat with invasive larvae results in trichinellosis. Currently, the most commonly used sources for detecting specific anti-Trichinella antibodies is ELISA with the muscle larvae (ML) excretory-secretory (E-S) proteins. However, these serological methods cannot be efficiently applied at early stage of infection. The aim of the current study was to identify the common and species-specific E-S proteins of T. spiralis and T. britovi adult worms which could have potential for accurate diagnosis of Trichinella infection at an early stage of invasion. Different sets of immunoreactive proteins were identified in T. spiralis and T. britovi proteomes by a combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), immunoblot and LC-MS/MS analysis. Polyubiquitin-B, a possible enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase YngF or polyubiquitin-like protein was found to be common for both species; gene ontology analysis confirmed its involvement in proteolysis, oxidation-reduction and translation processes, as well as in molecular transport. These molecules, being secreted or excreted at an early stage of parasite development, may play a critical role in the processes occurring during the initial steps of the host invasion and hence be suitable for diagnostic test development.

The cross-sectional study of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in selected groups of population in Slovakia

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite with domestic or free-living members of family Felidae known as the only definitive hosts of the parasite. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in selected population groups in Slovakia and to analyse the infection risk factors. Totally 1536 serum samples of voluntary respondents were examined by EIA Toxoplasma IgG (Test-Line Ltd., Clinical Diagnostics, Brno, Czech Republic). IgG antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 322 (21.0%) sera, with the highest seropositivity recorded among farmers (42.5%) and hunters (28.5%). According to age, the highest seropositivity was recorded in 12-18-year-old Roma children (46.2%), what confirms increased risk of infection in this minority that often lives in inadequate hygiene conditions. When only adult participants were taken into account, the highest seroprevalence was observed in the age group of ≥ 70years. Higher risk of infection (p < 0.05) was connected with cat ownership, living in rural residency and consumption of raw meat and meat processing. The results underline the importance of preventive measures and ongoing need to improve the knowledge on toxoplasmosis in both professionals and public.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria Isolated from Retail Meat.

BackgroundResistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria are determined to be one of the main causes of foodborne diseases.PurposeThis survey was done to assess the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of antibiotic resistance of S. aureus bacteria isolated from retail meat.MethodsFour-hundred and eighty-five retail meat samples were collected and examined. S. aureus bacteria were identified using culture and biochemical tests. The phenotypic profile of antibiotic resistance was examined using the disk diffusion method. The genotypic pattern of antibiotic resistance was determined using the polymerase chain reaction.ResultsForty-eight out of 485 (9.89%) raw retail meat samples were contaminated with S. aureus. Raw retail buffalo meat (16%) had the highest incidence of S. aureus, while raw camel meat (4%) had the lowest. S. aureus bacteria exhibited the uppermost incidence of resistance toward tetracycline (79.16%), penicillin (72.91%), gentamicin (60.41%), and doxycycline (41.666%). The incidence of resistance toward chloramphenicol (8.33%), levofloxacin (22.91%), rifampin (22.91%), and azithromycin (25%) was lower than other examined antibiotics. The most routinely detected antibiotic resistance genes were blaZ (58.33%), tetK (52.08%), aacA-D (33.33%), and ermA (27.08%). Cat1 (4.16%), rpoB (10.41%), msrA (12.50%), grlA (12.50%), linA (14.58%), and dfrA1 (16.66%) had the lower incidence rate.ConclusionRaw meat of animals may be sources of resistant S. aureus which pose a hygienic threat about the consumption of raw meat. Nevertheless, further investigations are essential to understand supplementary epidemiological features of S. aureus in retail meat.

The global epidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and aimsHepatitis E virus (HEV), as an emerging zoonotic pathogen, is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, with a high risk of developing chronic infection in immunocompromised patients. However, the global epidemiology of HEV infection has not been comprehensively assessed. This study aims to map the global prevalence and identify the risk factors of HEV infection by performing a systematic review and meta‐analysis.MethodsA systematic searching of articles published in Medline, Embase, Web of science, Cochrane and Google scholar databases till July 2019 was conducted to identify studies with HEV prevalence data. Pooled prevalence among different countries and continents was estimated. HEV IgG seroprevalence of subgroups was compared and risk factors for HEV infection were evaluated using odd ratios (OR).ResultsWe identified 419 related studies which comprised of 1 519 872 individuals. A total of 1 099 717 participants pooled from 287 studies of general population estimated a global anti‐HEV IgG seroprevalence of 12.47% (95% CI 10.42‐14.67; I 2 = 100%). Notably, the use of ELISA kits from different manufacturers has a substantial impact on the global estimation of anti‐HEV IgG seroprevalence. The pooled estimate of anti‐HEV IgM seroprevalence based on 98 studies is 1.47% (95% CI 1.14‐1.85; I 2 = 99%). The overall estimate of HEV viral RNA‐positive rate in general population is 0.20% (95% CI 0.15‐0.25; I 2 = 98%). Consumption of raw meat (P = .0001), exposure to soil (P < .0001), blood transfusion (P = .0138), travelling to endemic areas (P = .0244), contacting with dogs (P = .0416), living in rural areas (P = .0349) and receiving education less than elementary school (P < .0001) were identified as risk factors for anti‐HEV IgG positivity.ConclusionsGlobally, approximately 939 million corresponding to 1 in 8 individuals have ever experienced HEV infection. 15‐110 million individuals have recent or ongoing HEV infection. Our study highlights the substantial burden of HEV infection and calls for increasing routine screening and preventive measures.

Molecular detection and seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in free range local chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Duhok province, Iraq

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasitic disease of mammals and birds; human infection occurs through consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Little was known about the infection rate of T. gondii among free range local chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Duhok province. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the infection rate in Duhok province by using ELISA (IgG) and conventional PCR. A total of 368 blood samples were collected from free range local chickens distributed in five different areas of Duhok province during the period from November 2016 to March 2017. The collected blood samples were from different sexes (hens and cocks) and from different age groups (less than 6 months and older than 6 months). The data found that the total infection rate was (84 / 368) 22.8% by ELSIA. The presence of the infection was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. In this study, there were differences from area to area in the infection rates, the highest rate was reported in Semel district at 33.7% which was significantly (p

A novel luciferase-linked antibody capture assay (LACA) for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in chickens.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes the most common parasitic zoonosis worldwide in multiples species of mammals and birds. Although free-range chickens may play a role as an important reservoir for T. gondii, there is no reliable and commercially available diagnostic test for this disease in chickens. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel Luciferase-linked Antibody Capture Assay (LACA) for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma infection in chickens. Recombinant nanoluciferase fused-T. gondii dense granule antigen 8 (rNluc-GRA8) was produced and applied to LACA assay as a diagnostic antigen. GRA8-LACA was tested with the sera from uninfected and experimentally infected chickens with T. gondii and other parasitic pathogens and showed unexpectedly high sensitivity (90.5%) and specificity (95.4%). Interestingly, E. coli lysate expressing rNluc-GRA8 could be applied in GRA8-LACA with 85.7% sensitivity and an increased specificity (96.9%) that gave better diagnostic performance compared to conventional ELISA. We applied our diagnostic system to examine 267 free-range chicken sera collected from 12 farms and 100 closed-house broiler chicken sera from local poultry abattoirs. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in free-range chickens was 10.9% (95% CI: 10.6%-11.1%), while no positive case was found in broiler chickens. GRA8-LACA could be a useful diagnostic technique for T. gondii infection in chickens. The detection of T. gondii seropositive chickens in this study warns a potential risk of Toxoplasma transmission by the consumption of raw or undercooked chicken meat.

Animals and Food of Animal Origin as a Potential Source of Salmonellosis: A Review of the Epidemiology, Laboratory Diagnosis, Economic Impact and Public Health Significance

Salmonellosis is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused frequently by two species of Salmonella (Salmonella enterica, and Salmonella bongori). Although primarily an intestinal bacterium, Salmonellae are widespread in the environment and are commonly found in farm effluents, human sewage and in any material that is subjected to fecal contamination. Salmonella cause diarrheal and systemic infections in humans. The infection most commonly results due to the consumption of food originating from animals and the environment. Studies have attributed that the subclinical infection in farm animals may lead to the contamination of meat, eggs, and milk or cause secondary contamination of fruits and vegetables that have been fertilized or irrigated with water containing fecal wastes. Salmonellosis causes significant economic loss in the management of farm animals. This can be attributed to the cost associated with the diagnosis and to treat the disease, the cost of cleaning and disinfection, and the cost of control and prevention. Moreover, emerging antimicrobial resistance can increase morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with disease management. Salmonellosis has both the social and economic consequences that require strong scientific and public health efforts to improve the situation. Because of the financial constraints, serological tests are conducted on a statistically representative sample of the population where the results are not always indicative of active infection in the herd. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are available for some serovars of Salmonella and may be used for serological diagnosis and surveillance, especially in poultry and pigs. Vaccination, herd immunity, and antigenic cross-reactivity may compromise the diagnostic value of serological tests. Many inactivated vaccines are used against salmonellosis and some live vaccines are available commercially. Owing to the low efficacy of inactivated vaccines, oil or aluminum hydroxide adjuvants are used to improve their immunogenic properties. There is no vaccine to prevent salmonellosis in adults, whereas, a vaccine against Salmonella typhi has been developed, which is in use especially in children, but is only 60% effective. Prevention strategies include maintenance of sanitary/hygienic conditions in food processing plants, avoidance of cross-contamination of food, proper refrigeration of food, the supply of Salmonella free feed to animals, a strict inspection of meat originating from animals, detection and exclusion of carriers from food handling, and personal hygiene. Awareness should be created among the public about the risks associated with the consumption of raw meat, unpasteurized milk, smoked fish, un-cleaned vegetables, and contaminated water. This review attempts to highlight the role of farm animals in the transmission of salmonellosis, its epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, economic impact, and public health significance.

Current status of Opisthorchis viverrini, minute intestinal fluke and Taenia spp. infections among inhabitants in the Kenethao district of northern Lao PDR

This study reports the prevalence of Ov/minute intestinal fluke (MIF) and Taenia infections among inhabitants of the Kenethao district, northern Lao PDR. Fecal samples from 580 inhabitants were examined using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique. The prevalence of Ov/MIF, Taenia spp. and coinfection was 45.3, 11.9 and 6.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between males and females for Ov/MIF (p=0.813) and Taenia infection (p=0.759). The prevalence of Ov/MIF was significantly associated with age (p=0.005), but not for Taenia infection (p=0.836). Consumption of raw fish (p=0.001) and raw meat (p=0.046) was significantly associated with parasitic infections. The results suggest that Ov/MIF and Taenia spp. are highly endemic in this area and there is a need for projects to eliminate these parasites.

Knowledge of pastoralists on livestock diseases and exposure assessment to brucellosis within rural and peri-urban areas in Kajiado, Kenya

Background: Livestock diseases impact the livelihoods of pastoralists. Brucellosis, a neglected zoonotic disease is highly prevalent in this system with an estimated 16% of livestock population in sub-Saharan Africa infected with the disease. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge of livestock diseases and the risk of exposure to brucellosis among pastoralists living in Kajiado County of Kenya. Methods: The study sites included pastoralist communities living in rural and peri-urban areas within the County. Both primary and secondary data were collected using participatory methods including pairwise ranking, proportional piling and probing and a review of the published literature. Exposure risk assessment was conducted according to the CODEX Alimentarius framework: Hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment and risk estimation. Results: According to pastoralists, livestock diseases that frequently occurred in their flocks and herds were contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease; but zoonoses, including anthrax and brucellosis, were also mentioned during focus group discussions. Potential pathways of exposure to brucellosis and other zoonoses included consumption of unpasteurized milk, handling infected aborted materials without protective measures and consumption of raw meat and raw blood. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and handling infected aborted materials without protectives were linked with high risk of exposure to household members living in rural areas, with the risk level within the peri-urban areas ranked very low to low for most of these risk practices. Conclusions: The results call for enhanced public education targeting vulnerable groups to mitigate risks of disease spread and other impacts of brucellosis within the affected pastoralist production systems.

In vivo and in vitro assessment of commercial probiotic and organic acid feed additives in broilers challenged with Campylobacter coli

Summary Campylobacter is a major foodborne pathogen associated with the consumption or handling of raw or undercooked poultry meat. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial probiotic and organic acid (OA) feed additives for the reduction of Campylobacter coli. Supernatants from 4 probiotic strains were cocultured with C. coli at different dilutions. Probiotic supernatants decreased (P

The Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Boars from Three Voivodeships in Poland, MAT Analyses

PurposeThe European wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a popular game animal species. Its meat, however, can represent a reservoir of dangerous foodborne diseases and can play an important role in the transmission of many pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii, in humans and animals worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of antibodies to T. gondii in the serum of hunted wild boars in Poland.MethodsUsing the commercial direct agglutination test, 398 serum samples collected during the hunting season 2009/2010 were tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies, and the titre of 40 was considered indicative of T. gondii infection in analysed samples.ResultsIt was found that nationwide, 37.7% were seropositive to T. gondii, although seroprevalence varied from 11.6 to 50% depending on the Voivodeship. Significant differences were observed between the Great Poland and Lubusz Voivodeships and between Great Poland and Warmian-Masurian.ConclusionSerological test indicated widespread exposure to T. gondii by wild boar; therefore, consumption of raw or undercooked game meat of infected animals can carry a significant risk of T. gondii infection.

Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV.

Toxoplasma infection remains as the most common cause of focal brain lesions among people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the decline in opportunistic infections with the introduction of antiretroviral treatment. This study was conducted to provide a summary of evidence about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and prevalence of active T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among PLHIV. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and EMBASE were searched from 1997 to July 2018. All peer-reviewed original research articles describing T. gondii infection among PLHIV with different diagnostic methods were included. Incoherence and heterogeneity between studies were quantified by I index and Cochran's Q test. Publication and population bias were assessed with funnel plots and Egger's regression asymmetry test. All statistical analyses were performed using StatsDirect. In total, 111 studies from 37 countries assessing 66 139 blood samples were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of T. gondii infection among PLHIV was 3.24% by IgM and 26.22% by molecular methods using the random-effects model. Pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii by IgG was 44.22%. There was a relationship between Toxoplasma prevalence and sex, raw meat consumption, contact with cat and knowledge about toxoplasmosis. High Toxoplasma seroprevalence among PLHIV observed in this study emphasizes the need for implementing screening and prophylaxis tailored to the local context. Owing to the serious and significant clinical manifestations of the parasite in case of reactivation, early identification of seropositivity for initiating prophylaxis among those with a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells/ml is recommended.

How much does maternal consumption of raw meat increase the risk of Toxoplasma infection in pregnancy?

How much does maternal consumption of raw meat increase the risk of Toxoplasma infection in pregnancy?

Food Poisoning Incident Caused by the Consumption of Raw Deer Meat Contaminated with Genus &lt;i&gt;Sarcocystis&lt;/i&gt;

Food Poisoning Incident Caused by the Consumption of Raw Deer Meat Contaminated with Genus &lt;i&gt;Sarcocystis&lt;/i&gt;

Biochemical and technological view of broiler chicken meat with pectoral

ABSTRACT: There has been a significant advance in the poultry industry, and new technological and biological processes have accompanied the development of animals and inputs. Alongside the new possibilities for growth, there has been an emergence of new paradigms, including the rise of myopathies among which PSE, DFD, deep pectoral myopathy, oregon disease, acid breast, white stripping, wooden breast and spaghetti meat stand out. They cause considerable damage to the industry, as well as to ride hypotheses for studies in an attempt to better describe them. Researches seek to know about the behavior of proteins and specific protein groups in these anomalies. Groups of proteases are determinant to understand what may be occurring in muscle activity and; consequently, to understand the process in a more detailed way. Therefore, proteolytic systems may be acting on abnormal tissues. Proteases act differently in birds and mammals, but how altered they may be is still unknown. Besides, it is essential to relate the activities of these proteases, measures that indicate technological aspects that are relevant to meat quality standards. These quality standards must be directly associated with the consumption of raw meat in the material destined for processing, regardless of the final product. The important thing is to guarantee information that will lead the industry and consumers that will have, even with the anomaly developed, products that are nutritionally safe . This review discusses the biochemical and technological changes in poultry with pectoral anomalies, and how this affectsmeat quality.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from São Tomé and Príncipe.

Despite the global importance of the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, little is known regarding its infection in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (DRSTP). This is the first report of antibodies to T. gondii in cattle, sheep, goats and pigs from the DRSTP. Antibodies were assessed by the modified agglutination test (MAT), with a cut-off titer of 100 for cattle and 20 for sheep, goats and pigs. The present study revealed an overall seroprevalence of 55.8%; 27.1% in 48 cattle, 68.4% in 98 sheep, 70.1% in 97 goats and 43.7% in 103 pigs. The south geographical area for cattle, the central area for sheep, and adult age and living in the central region for goats were found to be risk factors for seropositivity to T. gondii. These results support the scenario of a considerable presence of sporulated oocysts as well as of infected intermediate hosts in the local environment. Consumption of raw or undercooked meat should be considered as an important potential source of infection for animals and humans in the DRSTP.