SOURCE DIVERSITY OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION DURING MEAL PREPARATION

Abstract

Potential sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection, as a foodborne zoonotic disease, and suggested control strategies, were investigated. Samples of fresh buffalo meat (FBM) and imported frozen buffalo meat (IFBM), raw vegetables (RVs) and irrigation water (IW) were examined for the presence of T. gondii infective stages. Serum samples from housewives, regarding their gloves usage, were serologically inspected for T. gondii antibodies. The prevalence of T. gondii tissue cysts in FBM and IFBM were 15.4 and 0%, respectively. FBM had an increased risk of 18.60 times than IFBM. The prevalence of T. gondii tissue cysts in RV and IW were 13 and 16.7%, with 0.78 times increased relative risk, respectively. The total antibodies were significantly differed between nonglove users and glove users, with seropositivities of 31 and 10.3%, respectively. Soaking of RV in water at 65C or in vinegar solution at 45C for 1 min was an effective treatment for complete elimination of the contaminant T. gondii oocysts.

Contamination of Soil, Water, Fresh Produce, and Bivalve Mollusks with Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts: A Systematic Review

“…The public health importance of different contaminated water sources is determined by their uses. In relation to this, one article reported 9.0% (9/100) recreational water samples to be oocyst positive [ 78 ], while the detection rates were between 16.7% (9/54) [ 95 ] and 50.0% (1/2) [ 88 ] in irrigation/washing water, and 2.3% (1/44) [ 97 ] and 100% (8/8) [ 51 ] in potable water. The origin of these samples was not specified in all cases; the recreational water corresponded to lakes and pools, the irrigation/washing water was from a river, and in one study, the potable water corresponded to water kept in tanks/towers from houses, in fountains, and from the water and sewage company.…”

“…A study from the Czech Republic specified that vegetables were irrigated with water from rivers, lakes, or wells and washed with water from the distribution system or wells [ 94 ]. Another study from Egypt also stated that the vegetables were irrigated with water from river canals [ 95 ]. Water samples were tested in both studies, and T. gondii was detected in one of them [ 95 ], while oocysts were detected in fresh produce in both cases ( Table 3 ).…”

“…Another study from Egypt also stated that the vegetables were irrigated with water from river canals [ 95 ]. Water samples were tested in both studies, and T. gondii was detected in one of them [ 95 ], while oocysts were detected in fresh produce in both cases ( Table 3 ). The presence of T. gondii oocysts in soil and surface water used for fresh produce production and processing (including packinghouse operations) suggests that there may be a risk of contamination of these products, as previously reported for Cryptosporidium spp.…”

A Review of Toxoplasmosis and Neosporosis in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

“…In cattle, previous studies have not detected viable parasites in beef from meat stores ( 54 ); however, T. gondii should be considered an issue of public health in regions where buffalo meat is widely consumed ( 55 ). Fresh and imported frozen buffalo meat obtained from markets in Egypt were assessed for viable T. gondii by bioassay in cats, and the prevalence of tissue cysts in fresh meat was 15.4% although none of the frozen buffalo meat was considered positive ( 56 ). The process of freezing meat at −20°C during importation probably inactivates the tissue cysts because freezing meat to temperature of −12°C or below is efficient in destroying tissue cysts ( 5 ).…”

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection from water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in northeastern and southern Thailand

“…One of the main routes for human infection by T. gondii is the consumption of raw or undercooked meat of infected intermediate hosts, containing tissue cysts (Tenter et al 2000, Tenter 2009, Robert-Gangneux and Dardé 2012, Belluco et al 2018, Pinto-Ferreira et al 2019. Cysts have been isolated and detected from 3-22% of fresh and frozen buffalo meat samples obtained from retail stores, makets and abbatoirs in many regions (Chaudhary et al 2006, El-Tras et al 2012, Gencay et al 2013, Bărburaș et al 2019. Therefore, the disease is considered to be a public health issue in areas where beef has been destined for broadscale human consumption (Gomes et al 2020).…”