Purpose

Food-borne Toxoplasma gondii infection is ranked among parasitic diseases of global concern. Toxoplasmosis is qualified as a one health disease, since it affects human health, animals, and ecosystems. The present study was performed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii in industrial poultry meat samples from Tunisia. A total of 140 breast samples were collected from chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and four breeding systems (broiler chickens, reform laying hens, chicken farm label, and broiler turkeys) cover the majority of chicken meat production in Tunisia.

Methods

For each sample, DNA was extracted and T. gondii-specific PCR, targeting the B1 gene was performed.

Results

The overall molecular prevalence of T. gondii in poultry meat samples was 20% (28/140; 95% CI: 13.3–26.6%). The highest prevalence was observed in chicken farm label (25.7%; 9/35). Prevalence rates were 20.0% (7/35), 20.0% (7/35), and 14.3% (5/35) in broiler chickens, broiler turkeys, and reform laying hens, respectively (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our finding suggests the involvement of industrial chicken meat, as a potential risk factor of human T. gondii transmission, especially when the latter is consumed undercooked.

中文翻译：

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突尼斯工业禽肉中刚地弓形虫的高流行率

目的

食源性弓形虫感染被列为全球关注的寄生虫病之一。弓形虫病被认定为一种健康疾病，因为它影响人类健康、动物和生态系统。本研究旨在估计突尼斯工业禽肉样本中刚地弓形虫的分子流行率。共从鸡 ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) 和火鸡 ( Meleagris gallopavo ) 中采集了 140 个乳房样本，四个育种系统（肉鸡、改革蛋鸡、养鸡场标签和肉鸡）涵盖了突尼斯大部分鸡肉生产.

方法

对于每个样品，提取 DNA 并进行针对 B1 基因的弓形虫特异性 PCR。

结果

禽肉样本中弓形虫的总体分子流行率为 20%（28/140；95% CI：13.3-26.6%）。在养鸡场标签中观察到的患病率最高（25.7%；9/35）。肉鸡、火鸡和改良蛋鸡的患病率分别为20.0%（7/35）、20.0%（7/35）和14.3%（5/35）（p  >0.05）。

结论

我们的发现表明，工业鸡肉的参与是人类弓形虫传播的潜在风险因素，尤其是当后者未煮熟食用时。