title: DNA detection of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep milk and blood samples in relation to phase of infection.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide parasite that is important both for veterinary medicine (economic losses in the herd) and for public health (immunocompromised patients and pregnant women). An important source of Toxoplasma infection in humans is consumption of contaminated meat and milk (undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk). Small ruminants are important in both milk and meat production throughout the world because of free-range husbandry. The purpose of our study was to detect the presence of T. gondii DNA in ewes' milk 1 month after the term, and to determine the relationship between the occurrence of this DNA in blood and milk based on the phase of infection. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) the animals were divided into two groups (immunoglobulin M positive (IgM+), IgM-). With real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), T. gondii DNA was detected in seven milk samples (28%) and five blood samples (20%) of the IgM+ group (25 samples). In the IgM- group T. gondii DNA was detected in two milk samples (3.6%) out of 55 samples.
authors: Institute of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: lenka.luptakova@uvlf.sk.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Luptakova
authors: Institute of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Benova
authors: Institute of Biology, Zoology and Radiobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rencko
authors: Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Petrovova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk / Q000469:parasitology*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Blood; DNA; Milk; Sheep; Toxoplasma gondii