title: First Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the Fresh Leafs of Vegetables in South America.
abstract: Despite the high dispersion of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the environment, there are few studies investigating their presence in vegetables consumed by the general population. This has led us to investigate its occurrence in raw vegetables. A total of 238 samples of vegetables were collected, including crisp lettuce, regular lettuce, chicory, rocket, and parsley, both organic and nonorganic, locally in northwestern Parana, Southern Brazil. Each sample (50 g) was washed and filtered separately. A PCR was performed to detect the parasite DNA from the sediment of each sample, using B1 (B22-23) and Toxo4-5 primers. We found contamination in 3.8% of the samples, 0.8% with the primer Toxo4-5 and 2.9% with B22-B23. The results were positive in 0.6% (1/62) of the samples of smooth lettuce, 3.7% (4/106) of crisp head lettuce, 5.0% (2/40) of chicory, 14.3% (1/7) of rocket, and 20% (1/5) of parsley. These data show the contamination by T. gondii in raw vegetables directly from production sites and stores, in both organic and nonorganic samples.
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Ariella A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marchioro
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Bruna T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Tiyo
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Cristiane M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Colli
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Carla Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina , Londrina, Brazil .
authors.forename: João L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Mônica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: 1 Environmental and Food Parasitology Laboratory, State University of Maringá (UEM) , Maringá, Brazil .
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Falavigna-Guilherme
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014675:Vegetables / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Environmental contamination; oocyst; organic and nonorganic; toxoplasmosis