title: Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the milk of naturally infected goats in the Northeast of Brazil.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to detect the genomic DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in milk samples from naturally infected goats in the state of Pernambuco, (Brazil). In total, 248 blood serum samples were collected and processed from lactating goats and then submitted to a search for antibodies to T. gondii through the indirect immunofluorescence reaction. Samples with a score of 64 or more were considered positive. In total, 248 milk samples were collected and processed from the same group of goats in order to study the DNA of T. gondii using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. In the serum samples, 56/248 (22.58%) of the animals were positive, whereas the DNA of the parasite was detected in 15/248 (6.05%) of the milk samples. Five of these 15 samples were animals who were also positive in the serology. This study reports the first occurrence of the elimination of T. gondii from the milk of naturally infected goats in the north-east of Brazil. It is suggested that the consumption of in natura goat milk may constitute a potential risk to the health of milk consumers in this region.
authors.affiliation: Médico Veterinário da Superintendência de Desenvolvimento do Nordeste - SUDENE, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: M J G
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: P C P
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: É P B X
authors.initials: ÉP
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: P P F
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: B H L S
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Infectocontagiosas dos Animais Domésticos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006041:Goats / Q000469:parasitology*; D008892:Milk / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D044967:Serum / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: goat milk; polymerase chain reaction (PCR); toxoplasmosis