Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondiifrom Pigs for Human Consumption in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces, Eastern China

Toxoplasma gondiiinfections are common in humans and animals worldwide. Ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondiiis one major source of transmission of this parasite. It is important to guarantee the meat quality of China since our pork industry produces about half of the world's pork. In this study, a total of 746 pig samples were collected from Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces in eastern China, and examined for T. gondiiinfection by PCR amplification targeting B1gene. In this study, we found that 57 of 746 (7.6%) pigs were positive for B1gene, with 8.5% (48/562) in Zhejiang province and 4.9% (9/184) in Jiangsu province, respectively. The positive DNA samples were further genotyped at 11 genetic markers, including SAG1, 5′-and 3′-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2, and an apicoplast locus Apico through PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. Two genotypes (ToxoDB 9 and ToxoDB 10) of T. gondiiwere identified by PCR-RFLP in Zhejiang province. However, both genotypes were not determined from Jiangsu province, which is speculated on the low DNA concentration and the small number of samples. These results indicate that T. gondiiinfection is endemic in pigs in eastern China and may raise public food safety concerns, suggesting more interventions for T. gondii-related risks are needed in the future.