Undercooked Meat Research Articles

Diseases Caused by and Behaviors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Toxoplasma gondii is an Apicomplexan parasite that is estimated to infect at least one-third of the global human population. T. gondii infection may be transmitted horizontally or vertically. The main risk factors for transmission to humans are related to diet, especially the consumption of undercooked meat, along with soil contact. In immunocompetent persons, the acute infection may go undetected as it typically produces minor, non-specific symptoms that are self-limited. After infection is established, recurrent retinochoroiditis is the most common clinical disease. In contrast, severe systemic or cerebral toxoplasmosis may be life-threatening for immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, congenital toxoplasmosis acquired in utero may have devastating consequences if not recognized and promptly treated. A growing body of research has identified associations between latent T. gondii infection, and personality traits and risk-taking behaviors. Other studies have documented associations between latent infection and psychiatric conditions that include schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. With no current treatment regimens being curative of T. gondii infection, effective prevention measures at both the public health and individual levels are vitally important.

Hepatitida E: co potřebujeme vědět o tomto onemocnění?

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents a significant global health concern, accounting for the second-highest incidence of viral hepatitis. Eight genotypes of HEV have been identified, four of which are associated with disease in humans. Genotypes 1 and 2 are transmitted via contaminated water, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotic and transmitted through the consumption of undercooked meat, particularly pork, venison, and rabbit. Genotype 3 is endemic in the Czech Republic, with reservoirs in pigs, wild game, and rabbits. A hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection presents with symptoms similar to those observed in other types of hepatitis, including fatigue, fever, malaise, jaundice, and dark urine. In immunocompetent patients, the infection typically resolves spontaneously. However, in immunocompromised patients, it can progress to a chronic state, leading to cirrhosis and liver failure. The presence of preexisting liver disease is a significant factor in the context of HEV, as patients with chronic liver disease infected with HEV are at an elevated risk of liver failure, which can potentially result in death. A diagnosis is made by detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the hepatitis E virus (HEV) and HEV ribonucleic acid (RNA) in blood and stool samples. The recommended diagnostic procedures are contingent upon the patient‘s immune status and epidemiological context. In most cases, treatment is not necessary; however, ribavirin and interferon alpha are employed in severe instances. Prevention strategies encompass enhanced hygiene practices, thorough cooking of meat, and in developing countries, the consideration of vaccination. The vaccine Hecolin® is available in China and is efficacious against genotypes 1, 2, and 4; however, it is not yet registered in the European Union.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Risk Factors in Pregnant Women in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil: A Multi-Level Analysis

This study assessed the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and risk factors among 428 pregnant women attending Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. The seroprevalence was 55.14%, indicating high exposure to the parasite in this population. Using a multi-level logistic regression model, this study analyzed these predictors to determine their association with a higher seropositivity rate, with BHUs included as a random factor. Predictors associated with higher seropositivity included older age (36–45 years), with a 71.64% prevalence in this group, and multiparity (61.65%). Women with lower educational levels were also more likely to be infected, with 59.46% seropositivity recorded among those who had only completed elementary school. Despite identifying several risk factors, no significant correlation was found between undercooked meat consumption or contact with soil and infection. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly for educating high-risk groups about toxoplasmosis prevention, such as safe food handling and avoiding raw dairy products. Additionally, BHUs play a critical role in early detection and prevention. These units are important for providing healthcare access and preventive education for vulnerable populations. Given the high seroprevalence, this study underscores the urgency of implementing prenatal screening and educational programs to reduce the risks of congenital toxoplasmosis in this region.

Seroprevalence and associated factors of toxoplasmosis in female children and adolescents in Germany

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that causes a high burden of disease worldwide. Infections occur mainly through the consumption of undercooked meat or the ingestion of contaminated cat feces from the environment. In Germany, seroprevalence in adults is exceptionally high by international comparison (50%), which could be due to the frequent consumption of raw pork products. Comparable analyses for children and adolescents are missing but are needed to estimate the public health problem and to suggest countermeasures. Methods As part of the second wave of the representative German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (2014-2017), serum of 1,453 girls aged 3 to 17 years was tested for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies using enzyme linked fluorescence assay (ELFA). We calculated overall and stratified seroprevalence and used multivariable logistic regression models based on Directed Acyclic Graphs to identify associated factors. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are being reported. Results Overall, 94 out of 1,453 girls tested positive for T. gondii resulting in a seroprevalence of 6.3% (95% CI: 4.7-8.0). With each year of life, the chance of being seropositive increased significantly by 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.3). A low social status (aOr 2.7; 95% CI 1.3-5.9) and living in rural (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1-5.7) or urban (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.4) areas were found to be associated with seropositivity. No regional distribution patterns or differences between vegetarians and non-vegetarians were seen. Conclusions Six out of 100 girls become infected with T. gondii during the first 18 years of life. Independent risk factors identified in our study have also been associated with seropositivity in other countries. Meat consumption appears to have a reduced impact on the risk of infection in children and adolescents compared to adults, calling for different prevention strategies in this population. Key messages • Toxoplasmosis causes a high infection pressure for girls and young women in Germany. • Transmission pathways might differ between age groups with more environmentally associated infections in children and adolescents.

Notes from the Field: Suspected Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Undercooked Bear Meat - North Carolina, November 2023.

Notes from the Field: Suspected Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Undercooked Bear Meat - North Carolina, November 2023.

Horse Meat Microbiota: Determination of Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Resistance of Isolated Staphylococcus Spp.

Domestic horses could be bred for leisure activities and meat production, as is already the case in many countries. Horse meat is consumed in various countries, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and with the increase in this consumption, horses are registered as livestock by the Food and Agricultural Organization. In this study, horse meat microbiota of horse samples (n = 56; 32 samples from Kazakhstan and 24 samples from Kyrgyzstan) from two countries, Kazakhstan (n = 3) and Kyrgyzstan (n = 1), were investigated for the first time by next-generation sequencing and metabarcoding analysis. The results demonstrated that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla in all samples. In addition, three (5.4%) Staphylococcus strains were isolated from the Uzynagash region, Kazakhstan. Staphylococcus strains were identified as Staphylococcus warneri, S. epidermidis, and S. pasteuri by partial 16S rRNA DNA gene Sanger sequencing. All three Staphylococcus isolates were nonbiofilm formers; only the S. pasteuri was detected as multidrug-resistant (resistant to penicillin, cefoxitin, and oxacillin). In addition, S. pasteuri was found to carry mecA, mecC, and tetK genes. This is the first study to detect potentially pathogenic Staphylococcus spp. in horse meat samples originating from Kazakhstan. In conclusion, it should be carefully considered that undercooked horse meat may pose a risk to consumers in terms of pathogens such as antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus isolates.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Diverse Escherichia coli Pathotypes from Nigeria.

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative commensal bacterium living in human and animal intestines. Its pathogenic strains lead to high morbidity and mortality, which can adversely affect people by causing urinary tract infections, food poisoning, septic shock, or meningitis. Humans can contract E. coli by eating contaminated food-such as raw or undercooked raw milk, meat products, and fresh produce sold in open markets-as well as by coming into contact with contaminated settings like wastewater, municipal water, soil, and faeces. Some pathogenic strains identified in Nigeria, include Enterohemorrhagic (Verotoxigenic), Enterotoxigenic, Enteropathogenic, Enteroinvasive, and Enteroaggregative E. coli. This causes acute watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Apart from the virulence profile of E. coli, antibiotic resistance mechanisms such as the presence of blaCTX-M found in humans, animals, and environmental isolates are of great importance and require surveillance and monitoring for emerging threats in resource-limited countries. This review is aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms of evolution and antibiotic resistance in E. coli in Nigeria and highlights the use of improving One Health approaches to combat the problem of emerging infectious diseases.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria in 2018.

Congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii can occur when a woman becomes infected for the first time during or just before pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii in the fetus can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, ocular or neurological abnormalities at birth, or progressive visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive deficiencies. The national seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in Nigeria was previously unknown. The 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey collected demographic, socioeconomic, and HIV-related data and stored blood specimens with consent for future analysis for other pathogens of public health importance. We evaluated toxoplasmosis seropositivity and risk factors in a sample of 44,269 women of reproductive age (WRA) between 15 and 44 years. The national T. gondii seroprevalence among WRA was 26.8% (95% CI: 25.8-27.7%). We found that WRA from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had T. gondii exposure. Seroprevalence was higher in 25- to 44-year-olds than in 15- to 24-year-olds. A similar proportion of pregnant and nonpregnant women were seropositive. Increased odds of seropositivity were associated with unimproved toilet facilities and drinking water sources, being in a higher wealth quintile, and primary and secondary education compared with no education. Decreased odds of seropositivity were associated with living in an urban area and owning livestock. This study provides the first-ever national seroprevalence estimate for WRA in Nigeria. Although information on known risk factors for toxoplasmosis (e.g., consumption of undercooked meat, cat ownership) was not collected, future studies could further investigate potential risk factors to inform the development of effective toxoplasmosis prevention measures.

Serological diagnosis of Toxocara canis in mothers and their neonate referred to selected teaching hospitals, Tehran, Iran, 2020.

Toxocariasis is a common zoonotic parasitic disease, primarily caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis or T. cati. Humans become infected through accidental ingestion of infective eggs in soil contaminated with feces of infected animals, or by consuming undercooked meat from paratenic hosts harboring Toxocara larvae. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. in 250 mothers and their 250 neonates referred to selected teaching hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2020. Data were recorded using a specialized questionnaire, and serum and peripheral blood smears (for eosinophil count) were collected. Serum samples were tested using the ELISA serological test for IgG antibodies against Toxocara spp. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 21.0. A chi-square test was performed, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 500 participants, 24 cases (4.8%) tested positive for anti-Toxocara canis IgG antibodies. Seropositive cases included 6 mothers only (25%), 6 neonates only (25%), and 12 cases both mother and their neonate (50%). Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies and hospital type and nationality (P value < 0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between the presence of antibodies and other demographic variables such as age, sex, eosinophilia, and history of contact with animals in mothers and their neonates (P value > 0.05). This study indicates a substantial rate Toxocara infection in mothers and neonates, necessitating appropriate preventive measures by the relevant authorities.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Behavior Regarding Toxoplasmosis among Females in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Toxoplasmosis, a prevalent parasitic zoonotic disease, is influenced by various factors such as the climate, dietary habits, and hygiene practices. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors regarding toxoplasmosis among females in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Utilizing a bilingual Google form, a cross-sectional online survey was distributed in both Arabic and English, and it was conducted between 11 January 2024 and 4 March 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27, with a p-value ≤ 0.05 indicating significant qualitative data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. A total of 533 participants were included in the study. Participants aged 18-25 years old constituted the largest group (70.4%), with those aged 26-40 years old accounting for 14.4% and ages 41-60 years old comprising 15.2%. Among the participants, 76.4% were unmarried, and 21.4% were pregnant. Notably, 79.2% of participants reported being unaware of toxoplasmosis, with only 9.0% gaining awareness from doctors and a mere 3.6% from awareness campaigns. Any understanding of the disease's severity and causative factors was limited to 15.9%. Despite a generally positive attitude towards preventive measures, significant correlations were found between toxoplasmosis and age (p-value 0.093), as well as the consumption of medium-cooked meat (p-value 0.008). Other variables, such as social status, cat ownership, handwashing before meals, and washing fruits and vegetables did not show significant correlations. Diet and hygiene practices notably impact toxoplasmosis transmission. In Riyadh, 79% of participants did not own cats, and 67.7% avoided undercooked meat. However, 6.7% used unfiltered water, and 8.4% did not wash their hands after handling raw meat and vegetables. The study concludes that there is insufficient knowledge regarding toxoplasmosis among females in Riyadh. Despite low knowledge, there is a neutral to slightly positive attitude and a willingness to learn and adopt preventive measures when informed. With better education, attitudes towards toxoplasmosis could improve due to a desire to learn and act. While general hygiene practices were favorable, specific preventive behaviors for toxoplasmosis need enhancement to reduce infection risks.

Salmonella Prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile in raw poultry meat sold in North Lebanon: Insights from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis

Salmonella-related foodborne illness is a significant public health concern, with the primary source of human infection being animal-based food products, particularly chicken meat. Lebanon is currently experiencing a dual crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented economic crisis, which has resulted in substantial challenges to the public health system and food safety. This study aims to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella in raw poultry meat sold in North Lebanon during this dual crisis. A cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2021 and April 2022 across six different districts in North Lebanon. A total of 288 whole, unprocessed chickens were examined. The isolation and identification of Salmonella isolates were done based on cultural and biochemical properties. All isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and phenotypic assays for Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) detection. The prevalence of Salmonella in raw poultry meat purchased in North Lebanon reached 18.05 % (52/288). The dry season and chilled chicken were significantly associated with an increased risk of Salmonella contamination (P < 0.05). Additionally, 34.61 % of the isolates were potential ESBL producers, and 57.69 % exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). This study highlights the existence of MDR in chicken meat in North Lebanon, posing a potential health risk if undercooked chicken meat is consumed. This emphasizes the importance of the implementation of preventive strategies and hygienic procedures throughout the food chain to reduce the risk of Salmonella spp. contamination in chicken meats and its potential transmission to humans.

Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in apparently healthy horses in eastern of Spain

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses and represents a significant health risk for humans, especially for immunodeficient patients. The main transmission route is by oral uptake of oocysts and consumption of undercooked meat of infected animals. Different species have been evaluated as possible reservoirs of the parasite, but few studies have been carried out to examine the role of horses in transmission of the disease. Given the proximity of these animals to humans and the widespread consumption of their meat in many countries, including the Mediterranean basin, it is important to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in this species. In this study, blood samples from 105 horses were collected and the presence of T. gondii was evaluated by serological and molecular methods. Antibodies against T. gondii of 12 horses (11.43%) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas 29 horses (27.62%) showed positive for PCR. Seroprevalence was related to use of the animals, being higher in horses used for dressage than in others. Purebreds had higher seroprevalence than crossbred animals. No differences between breed, sex or age were found. The results of this study confirm the presence of T. gondii infection in horses, highlighting the need to analyse the meat of this species before human consumption and to control of this infection in horses, as they could be an important reservoir of this zoonotic parasite.

Development of a New Multispecies Protein A-Based ELISA for Serodiagnosis of Hepatitis E Infection with Validation in Domestic Swine.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infects roughly 20 million people worldwide, causing self-limiting acute hepatic disease that can evolve into a chronic course. HEV-3, HEV-4, and HEV-7 genotypes are zoonotic and transmitted to humans by consuming raw or undercooked meat. Here, we developed an indirect ELISA based on the recombinant HEV-3 capsid and performed a seroprevalence study on domestic swine in northeastern Brazil. Our in-house ELISA was initially validated using a subset of 79 sera characterized by concordant results for two distinct commercial ELISA kits. Our ELISA exhibited excellent sensitivity (94%) and specificity (100%), with an area under the curve of 0.99 Further testing, including 212 swine sera, revealed a seroprevalence of 57.5% (95% confidence interval, 50.6-64.3%). Our findings indicate that the novel ELISA test could accurately detect specific anti-HEV antibodies in domestic pigs and should be further validated in humans and other mammals.

Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Germany: Serological Screening from Thuringia.

Game meat is an important source of meat borne parasitic infections. Due to its omnivorous diet, the wild boar is an important host of zoonotic parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii can cause severe to fatal disease in immunosuppressed patients, as well as congenital disorders in foetus and neonates. Consumption of undercooked infected meat is a main source of T. gondii infection. Information about the risk of toxoplasmosis through game meat is scarce. We collected serum samples from 42 wild boars from the federal state of Thuringia (Germany) between December 2017 and February 2018. Identification of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was conducted using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. Seropositivity was confirmed in 18 of the 42 samples (37.50%). From these, the highest seroprevalence was found in adult animals. This study joins another single database from wild boars in Brandenburg. The necessity of a country-wide database regarding T. gondii prevalence in wild boar and other game meat is pivotal for a profound risk analysis with its consequential impact in future mean hygiene policies.

Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women in Çankırı

Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted to humans through consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing live tissue cysts, consumption of water or food contaminated with oocysts shed from cat feces, and vertical transmission during pregnancy or through tissue, organ, and blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in patients admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Çankırı State Hospital (ÇSH). In this study, anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibody levels of 62 pregnant women between the ages of 17 and 47 who applied to ÇSH gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic for normal pregnancy follow-up between June 2022 and January 2023 were investigated. According to the results of the studies, anti-T gondii IgG positivity is 12.9% and negative 87.1% and anti-T. gondii IgM positivity is 0% while it was found to be 100% negative. According to these results, it is reported that the majority of pregnant women do not encounter T. gondii and; therefore, they should be more careful in terms of congenital toxoplasmosis. T. gondii can be transmitted to humans through consumption of water or food contaminated with oocysts excreted in cat feces and through vertical transmission or tissue, organ, and blood transfusion during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women should be carefully monitored for T. gondii.

Diagnosis of Experimental Trichinosis by Nano-Based ELISA and Nano-Based Latex Agglutination Test Compared with Traditional Sandwich ELISA

Abstract Human trichinellosis is a serious foodborne parasitic zoonosis. The main route for contracting the infection is eating raw or undercooked meat, especially pork containing a sufficient load of infective viable larvae. Early diagnosis is crucial before the larval encystation in skeletal muscles, so detection of circulating antigens can be helpful. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the novel Nanomagnetic beads based-ELISA (NMB-ELISA), and Nanomagnetic beads based latex agglutination test (NMB-LAT) for the diagnosis of experimental trichinellosis compared to sandwich ELISA through the detection of Trichinella spiralis adult worm crude extract antigen AW-CEA in serum. The study included thirty-eight (38) mice classified into 3 groups; T. spiralis infection group (GI) which was equally subdivided into 5 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice (6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 dpi), other parasitic infections group (GII) and healthy control group (GIII). T. spiralis AW-CEA was prepared from the adult worms through homogenization and ultra-sonication and then used to produce anti- T. spiralis IgG-pAbs in rabbits which were subsequently utilized to detect AW-CEA in serum samples by sandwich ELISA, NMB-ELISA, and NMB-LAT. Using NMB-ELISA, T. spiralis AW-CEA was detected in sera collected at 6 and 8 dpi, with a sensitivity of 50%, and 75%, respectively, and a specificity of 100%. Meanwhile, sandwich ELISA and NMB-LAT couldn’t detect the antigen at the same time intervals. Both ELISA formats were able to detect the antigen in samples collected at 10, 12, and 14 dpi with a sensitivity of 100% for NMB-ELISA, and 25%, 75%, and 100% respectively, for sandwich-ELISA. On the other hand, NMB-LAT couldn't detect T. spiralis AW-CEA until 12 dpi with a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 75%. In conclusion, the NMB-ELISA is a promising sensitive technique for early and specific diagnosis of acute trichinellosis in an animal model. Thus, it can be used as a potential alternative to the standard ELISA to obtain confident results. In addition, the use of NMB-LAT for AW-CEA detection could be a valuable screening diagnostic technique in field surveys.

Susceptibility of pESI positive Salmonella to treatment with biocide chemicals approved for use in poultry meat processing as compared to Salmonella without the pESI plasmid.

Salmonella is a common cause of human foodborne illness, which is frequently associated with consumption of contaminated or undercooked poultry meat. Serotype Infantis is among the most common serotypes isolated from poultry meat products globally. Isolates of serotype Infantis carrying the pESI plasmid, the most dominant strain of Infantis, have been shown to exhibit oxidizer tolerance. Therefore, 16 strains of Salmonella with and without pESI carriage were investigated for susceptibility to biocide chemical processing aids approved for use in US poultry meat processing: peracetic acid (PAA), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), calcium hypochlorite, and sodium hypochlorite. Strains were exposed for 15 s to simulate spray application and 90 min to simulate application in an immersion chiller. All strains tested were susceptible to all concentrations of PAA, CPC, and sodium hypochlorite when applied for 90 min. When CPC, calcium hypochlorite, and sodium hypochlorite were applied for 15 s to simulate spray time, strains responded similarly to each other. However, strains responded variably to exposure to PAA. The variation was not statistically significant and appears unrelated to pESI carriage. Results highlight the necessity of testing biocide susceptibility in the presence of organic material and in relevant in situ applications.

Effects of irradiation on the survival of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in beef.

Sarcocystis is a food-borne zoonotic protozoan whose final hosts are humans, dogs, cats, and other carnivores and intermediate hosts are birds and mammals, especially humans and herbivores. Humans become infected by eating raw and undercooked meat contaminated with bradyzoites or by consuming water or food contaminated with the sporocyst stage of the parasite. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma radiation and electron beam on the survival rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected beef and to determine the effective dose. Three replicates of 100g of infected meat were treated with different doses (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2kGy). As a control, 20g of contaminated meat was stored separately at 4°C. The viability of the bradyzoites after digestion in pepsin solution was assessed, stained (trypan blue) and unstained, under a stereomicroscope. To assess survival of the bradyzoites, the irradiated meat samples were fed to 30 dogs. After 10 days, faecal samples were examined for sporocysts. The results showed that the highest and lowest mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected organs using electron beam at a dose of 2kGy were 92.5% and 100%, respectively, and the lowest mortality rate at a dose of 0.5kGy were 2.5% and 7.89%, respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed that the mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites was significant between different doses of gamma ray and electron beam, so that gamma rays were better compared to electron beam in destroying Sarcocystis bradyzoites.

Nested PCR optimization for detecting hepatitis E virus

The occurrence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections is on the rise in developing countries, frequently linked to the consumption of undercooked meats and exposure to animal feces. Typically, HEV diagnosis relies on the immunodetection of anti-HEV antibodies and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In this study, nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) for detecting HEV in domesticated pig and farmed wild boar samples was optimized to provide an alternative method for reliable and precise detection of HEV, particularly in animal samples. All samples were collected in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Total RNA was extracted from liver tissues of domestic pigs (n=48), rectal swabs samples (n=60), and feces samples (n=25) of farmed wild boars. Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized using random hexamers. Nested PCR was performed under four different conditions: protocol 1–4, with variations in reaction components and concentrations. Two PCR programs, designated as A and B, were examined, featuring distinct cycling times and annealing temperatures for the outer and inner amplification stages. The resulting amplification products (306 bp) were visualized through gel electrophoresis. Protocol 1 and 2, when employed in conjunction with both program A and B, failed to identify any positive samples, including the positive control (0%). In contrast, protocol 3, in combination with program A, and protocol 4, paired with program B, successfully identified 28 positive results out of 133 tested samples (21%). It is noteworthy that protocol 4, when used with program B, yielded clearer and more specific bands. The study successfully optimized a nested-PCR protocol for detecting HEV in animal samples, comprising tissues, rectal swabs, and fecal samples.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus) at the Tabriz abattoir, Iran

AbstractBackgroundToxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasite in humans and warm‐blooded animals worldwide. Infection of humans by this parasite can result in severe clinical symptoms, particularly in individuals with congenital toxoplasmosis or immunocompromised patients. Contamination mainly occurs through foodborne routes, especially the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from animals.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to use PCR to detect T. gondii in tissues and organs of buffaloes and cattle slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, in Iran.MethodsFifty grams of heart, thigh, diaphragm and tongue from 50 buffaloes and 100 cattle slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial slaughterhouse were selected for sampling using a combination of convenience sampling. The samples were tested using a previously published PCR method.ResultsOut of the 150 animal samples, T. gondii was detected in 10 (6.7%, 95%CI: 3.2–11.9), including one buffalo (2%, 95%CI: 0.1–10.6) and nine cattle (9%, 95%CI: 4.2–16.4). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of T. gondii infection among cattle based on age and sex (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionsThe results indicated a potential risk of T. gondii transmission to humans through the consumption of infected meat. Therefore, appropriate and effective preventive measures should be taken to limit the transmission of this parasite to humans, and the consumption of raw and undercooked meat should be discouraged.