Molecular Identification of Toxoplasma gondii in the Native Slaughtered Cattle of Tehran Province, Iran
Journal Title: Journal of Food Quality and Hazards Control - Year 2019, Vol 6, Issue 4
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a common parasitic disease, affecting almost one-third of the world’s population. It is transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by cats and the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from ruminants. This study aimed at molecular characterization of T. gondii in native cattle from West of Tehran, Iran. Methods: A total of 180 samples were collected from the cattle diaphragms (n=80) and heart muscles (n=100) from multiple slaughterhouses. The nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was carried out to amplify the GRA6 gene of T. gondii. The PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymerase (PCR-RFLP) assay was also performed on positive samples, using Tru1I (MseI) restriction enzyme. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS (v.15.0). Results: T. gondii was found in 38 out of 180 (21.1%) samples. The infection rate in heart muscle samples (16.66%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the diaphragm samples (4.44%). The PCR-RFLP pattern by MseI enzyme showed that 13 (7.22%) samples were genotype II, while 25 (13.88%) were genotype III, having statistically meaningful difference (p<0.05). No genotype I was found in the studied isolates. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the frequency of T. gondii was high in the study area. Therefore, educational programs need to be implemented in order to inform people about the risks of raw or undercooked meat consumption.
Authors and Affiliations
A. Dalir Ghaffari, A. Dalimi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP682795
- DOI 10.18502/jfqhc.6.4.1993
- Views 219
- Downloads 0
A Note to Authors Regarding Submissions about Possible Food Safety Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic
This article has no abstract.
Possibility of Faecal-Oral Transmission of Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) via Consumption of Contaminated Foods of Animal Origin: A Hypothesis
This article has no abstract.
The Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Physicochemical, Microbial, and Sensorial Properties of Iranian Mazafati Date
Background: Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is one of the most convenient packaging methods that could be useful in reducing the wastes and extending the crops’ shelf-life. This research aimed to assess the impact of...
High Prevalence of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Aflatoxin B1 Contamination in Corn and Wheat Grains Grown to Albania: Implications for Food Safety
Background: Today, mycotoxins are considered critical contaminants in foodstuffs produced by fungi, highlighting the importance of food safety to human health. The toxigenic fungi invasion and mycotoxin production are hi...
Fluoroquinolone Residues in Fish Collected from Farms and Retail Stores in Stara Zagora Region, Bulgaria
Background: Fluoroquinolones are among various antibiotic groups used in livestock husbandry. The aim of this screening study was to evaluate the presence of fluoroquinolone residues in fish samples of Stara Zagora regio...