The first detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in environmental fruits and vegetables samples

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infections are prevalent in humans and animals all over the world. The aim of the study was to estimate the occurrence of T. gondii oocysts in fruits and vegetables and determine the genotype of the parasites. A total number of 216 fruits and vegetables samples were taken from shops and home gardens located in the area of northern Poland. Oocysts were recovered with the flocculation method. Then, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the B1 gene was used for specific T. gondii detection and quantification. Toxoplasma DNA was found in 21 samples. Genotyping at the SAG2 locus showed SAG2 type I and SAG2 type II. This is the first investigation describing T. gondii DNA identification in a large number of fruits and vegetables samples with rapid molecular detection methods. The results showed that fruits and vegetables contaminated with T. gondii may play a role in the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Poland.

The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food‐borne outbreaks in 2015

“…vaccination) it is important to collect and analyse information obtained from epidemiological investigations and surveys that standardise the sample matrix (brain, heart, lungs), the analytical method (direct methods preferentially) and the target population (species and risk categories). In addition, there is a lack of information on the contamination of vegetables and fruit and drinking water by Toxoplasma oocysts shed by cats (Dumetre and Darde, 2003;Lass et al, 2012). There is the need to investigate these transmission routes.…”

Surto de toxoplasmose aguda no Município de Ponta de Pedras, Arquipélago do Marajó, Estado do Pará, Brasil: características clínicas, laboratoriais e epidemiológicas

“…Nesses, a toxoplasmose é adquirida principalmente pela via oral, por meio da ingestão de cistos presentes em carnes consumidas cruas ou mal cozidas, ou de oocistos excretados nas fezes de felídeos infectados e que podem contaminar frutas e verduras, água e solo 2, 3,4 .…”

Transmission dynamics of foodborne parasites on fresh produce

“…Another study reported the detection of Toxoplasma DNA by real-time PCR in 9.7% of fruit and vegetable samples collected in Poland (Lass et al, 2012). Al-Megrin (2010) reported a 1.1% prevalence of T. gondii oocysts on leafy vegetables in Saudi Arabia.…”