<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0052_s_005">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p><italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> is one of the most prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasites worldwide and affects the vast majority of warm-blooded animal species, including humans. Postnatal infection in humans occurs through the ingestion of sporulated <italic>T. gondii</italic> oocysts or <italic>via</italic> the oral intake of parasite tissue cysts during the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. In this regard, given their high exposure to oocysts, chickens (<italic>Gallus domesticus</italic>) raised on the ground constitute a potential source of <italic>T. gondii</italic>.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0052_s_006">
<h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>For the first time in Spain, a survey was undertaken in commercial retail free-range poultry. A total of 50 thighs from different animals were analysed. The samples were homogenised and an acid pepsin digestion procedure was applied prior to molecular analysis. <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> DNA was isolated from meat by qPCR. Two sets of primers were used for DNA amplification targeting the specific sequence of a 529 bp repeat element and another set of primers was utilised for the surface antigen protein-1 gene.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0052_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>DNA extracted from 5 out of 50 tissue samples was positive for both genes by qPCR amplification.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0052_s_008">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The 10% prevalence of <italic>Toxoplasma</italic> infection found in commercial free-range chickens raises public health issues.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasites worldwide and affects the vast majority of warm-blooded animal species, including humans. Postnatal infection in humans occurs through the ingestion of sporulated T. gondii oocysts or via the oral intake of parasite tissue cysts during the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. In this regard, given their high exposure to oocysts, chickens (Gallus domesticus) raised on the ground constitute a potential source of T. gondii.

Material and Methods
For the first time in Spain, a survey was undertaken in commercial retail free-range poultry. A total of 50 thighs from different animals were analysed. The samples were homogenised and an acid pepsin digestion procedure was applied prior to molecular analysis. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was isolated from meat by qPCR. Two sets of primers were used for DNA amplification targeting the specific sequence of a 529 bp repeat element and another set of primers was utilised for the surface antigen protein-1 gene.

Results
DNA extracted from 5 out of 50 tissue samples was positive for both genes by qPCR amplification.

Conclusion
The 10% prevalence of Toxoplasma infection found in commercial free-range chickens raises public health issues.

Prevalence of <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Prevalence of  in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain

Introduction
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasites worldwide and affects the vast majority of warm-blooded animal...

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain

Article Category: Review article

Publicado en línea: 06 oct 2021

Páginas: 457 - 461

Recibido: 14 mar 2021

Aceptado: 15 sept 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0052

Palabras clave
free-range chickens, Spain, meat, qPCR

© 2021 M.J. Gracia Salinas et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in retail fresh meat products from free-range chickens in Spain

Article Category: Review article

Publicado en línea: 06 oct 2021

Páginas: 457 - 461

Recibido: 14 mar 2021

Aceptado: 15 sept 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0052

Palabras clavefree-range chickens, Spain, meat, qPCR

© 2021 M.J. Gracia Salinas et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
free-range chickens, Spain, meat, qPCR