Repository logo
 
Publication

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in fresh vegetables and berry fruits

2020-04-08Journal article Open access
Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMarques, Cláudia S.
dc.contributor.authorSousa, Susana
dc.contributor.authorCastro, António
dc.contributor.authorda Costa, José Manuel Correia
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-05T16:18:03Z
dc.date.available2021-04-05T16:18:03Z
dc.date.issued2020-04-08
dc.description.abstractBackground: Toxoplasma gondii is the third most important contributor to health burden caused by food-borne illness. Ingestion of tissue cysts from undercooked meat is an important source of horizontal transmission to humans. However, there is an increasing awareness of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, as a possible source for oocyst transmission, since this stage of the parasite can persist and remain infective in soil and water for long time. Herein, we outline findings related with detection of T. gondii oocysts in vegetables and berry fruits, which are usually raw consumed. The procedure includes the estimation of the number of oocysts. Methods: Food samples were collected from local producers and supermarket suppliers. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were concentrated after washing the samples by applying high resolution water filtration and immunomagnetic separation (method 1623.1: EPA 816-R-12-001-Jan 2012), in order to (i) remove potential Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts present in the samples; and (ii) select T. gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii oocyst detection and an estimation of their numbers was performed by conventional PCR and real time qPCR, using specific primers for a 183-bp sequence of the T. gondii repetitive DNA region. All PCR-positive DNA samples were purified and sequenced. Restriction enzyme digestion with EcoRV endonuclease confirmed the presence of the T. gondii DNA fragment. In addition, the presence of the parasite was observed by fluorescent microscopy, taking advantage of the oocysts autofluorescence under UV light. Results: Forty percent of the analysed samples (95% CI: 25.5–56.5%) presented the expected PCR and digested DNA fragments. These fragments were confirmed by sequencing. Microscopic autofluorescence supported the presence of T. gondii-like oocysts. The estimated mean (± SE) oocyst concentration was 23.5 ± 12.1 oocysts/g, with a range of 0.6–179.9 oocysts/g. Conclusions: Our findings provide relevant evidence of contamination of fresh vegetables and berry fruits with T. gondii oocysts.pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study was supported by the Horizon 2020 project SafeConsume (Grant Agreement No. 727580).pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationParasit Vectors. 2020 Apr 8;13(1):180. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04040-2.pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s13071-020-04040-2pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn1756-3305
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/7639
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherBMCpt_PT
dc.relationSafeConsumE: Safer food through changed consumer behavior: Effective tools and products, communication strategies, education and a food safety policy reducing health burden from foodborne illnesses
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-020-04040-2pt_PT
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/pt_PT
dc.subjectFruitpt_PT
dc.subjectOocystspt_PT
dc.subjectPortugalpt_PT
dc.subjectRaw Foodspt_PT
dc.subjectSpainpt_PT
dc.subjectToxoplasmapt_PT
dc.subjectVegetablespt_PT
dc.subjectFood Parasitologypt_PT
dc.subjectInfecções Gastrointestinaispt_PT
dc.titleDetection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in fresh vegetables and berry fruitspt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleSafeConsumE: Safer food through changed consumer behavior: Effective tools and products, communication strategies, education and a food safety policy reducing health burden from foodborne illnesses
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/727580/EU
oaire.citation.issue1pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage180pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleParasites and Vectorspt_PT
oaire.citation.volume13pt_PT
oaire.fundingStreamH2020
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100008530
project.funder.nameEuropean Commission
rcaap.embargofctAcesso de acordo com página web do editor da revista.pt_PT
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isProjectOfPublicationb5725ac7-5357-4923-84c6-f0a9e73ea1fb
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryb5725ac7-5357-4923-84c6-f0a9e73ea1fb

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
35_Detection of Toxoplasma.pdf
Size:
1.37 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

DDI - Artigos em revistas internacionais