Monitoring and Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Food: Vegetables, Fruits, and Fish as Neglected Vehicles for Toxoplasmosis in the Nile Delta of Egypt
Monitoring and Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Food: Vegetables, Fruits, and Fish as Neglected Vehicles for Toxoplasmosis in the Nile Delta of Egypt
Walid Elmonir1*, Ahmed Abdel-Fattah Tayel2, Suzan Abdelbaky Kotb1 and Wael Fawzy El-Tras2
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted in the Nile Delta, Egypt, to investigate the role of vegetables, fruits, and fish as a source of Toxoplasma gondii and to determine effective decontamination approaches. A total of 200 agricultural produce samples (50 per each of carrots, radishes, lettuces, and strawberries) and 315 fish samples (200 Mullet and 115 Tilapia) were collected. The T. gondii were identified in these samples by microscopy and molecular analysis. In total, 9% (18/200) of agricultural produce samples had Toxoplasma oocysts. T. gondii was detected in 14% of carrots, 12% of radishes, 4% of lettuces, and 6% of strawberries. There was no significant difference in prevalence of T. gondii between different fresh produce type (P value= 0.1 – 0.6). T. gondii was not detected in any fish samples. Two agriculture produce (1 carrot and 1 strawberry) samples were misdiagnosed by microscopic analysis, which emphasized the importance of molecular detection of Toxoplasma oocysts in environmental samples. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of T. gondii oocysts in vegetables, and fruits in Egypt. Awareness of public and health professionals about these neglected vehicles of toxoplasmosis is urgently required.
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