Molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in pork meat from different production systems in the Czech Republic.
Toxoplasmosis is a major public health issue, due to the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, mainly in pork. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of T. gondii in pigs and wild boars bred in different production systems in the Czech Republic using ELISA and qPCR methods. Our results show that T. gondii infection is widespread in pigs and wild boars bred and slaughtered in the Czech Republic and that there is a higher exposure to T. gondii in backyard slaughter operations and organic pig farming, indicating a potential risk for meat consumption. Additionally, genotyping of amplified loci for Type II suggests the presence of one clonal genotype circulating in these animals.
Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Food Safety and Feed, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: slany@vri.cz.
Michal
M
Slany
Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Food Safety and Feed, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Nikol
N
Reslova
Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Food Safety and Feed, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Vladimir
V
Babak
Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Food Safety and Feed, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Alena
A
Lorencova
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D059022:Food Safety; D005838:Genotype; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000469:parasitology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
Food safety; Molecular diagnostics; Zoonoses