Application of different techniques to detect Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered sheep for human consumption

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep slaughtered in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, by means of different diagnosis techniques. Serum samples and tissues from 100 slaughtered sheep were used. To detect antibodies, the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was used, and tissues from seropositive animals (cut-off ≥1:64) were submitted to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). To assess the concordance between the direct techniques, the kappa test was used. In the IFAT, it was observed that 14% (14/100) of the ovine samples were serum-positive. In the PCR, 21.43% (3/14) of the animals were positive and in IHC, it was observed that 7.14% (1/14) were positively stained for T. gondii in cerebral tissue. Histopathologically, the predominant finding was the presence of mononuclear cell infiltrate in the heart and a perivascular cuff in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The concordance between the direct diagnosis techniques was moderate (k=0.44). Thus, it is important to use different direct techniques in diagnosing toxoplasmosis in naturally infected sheep.

Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis using Lateral Flow Chromatographic Immunoassay among Animals and Humans in Sunsari District of Nepal

“…It was found that anti-T. gondii antibody is prevalent in sheep (12.0%) and cattle (8.7%). These fi ndings are almost similar to 14% in sheep (Nunes et al, 2015) and 8.57% in cattle (Azizi et al, 2014). Surprisingly in all the studied species of animals, highly appreciable fi ndings were that female, older age group (above 18 months in sheep and above 5 years in cattle) and pregnant animals were found more susceptible to T. gondii.…”

Epidemiological analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

“…Similar serological studies conducted in Brazil have also reported seroprevalence values in sheep ranging between 3.7-35.3% SILVA et al, 2003;PINHEIRO JÚNIOR et al, 2009;SOCCOL et al, 2009;PEREIRA et al, 2012;NUNES et al, 2015;SILVA et al, 2015).…”

Imunodetecção de Toxoplasma gondii em tecido placentário de cabras naturalmente infectadas

“…Durante o parto foram coletadas amostras de 80 placentas que, inicialmente, foram submetidas ao método rotineiro de processamento e inclusão em parafina e, posteriormente, foram submetidas à análise histopatológica para identificação de lesões compatíveis com Toxoplasma gondii segundo critério estabelecido por Buxton e Finlayson (1986). As amostras placentárias foram analisadas quanto à presença de áreas de necrose, infiltrados mononucleares e áreas de calcificação e, posteriormente, foram submetidas à técnica de IHQ (Pereira-Bueno et al, 2004).…”

“…Um animal positivo no ELISA e no exame histopatológico foi negativo na IHQ. Isso também pode ocorrer devido à presença do parasito em outros tecidos ou em partes do mesmo tecido não analisadas, levando a um resultado falso-negativo na IHQ (Nunes et al, 2015), o que indica a necessidade de coletar vários fragmentos dos órgãos para minimizar esse efeito.…”