SOURCE DIVERSITY OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION DURING MEAL PREPARATION

Potential sources of Toxoplasma gondii infection, as a foodborne zoonotic disease, and suggested control strategies, were investigated. Samples of fresh buffalo meat (FBM) and imported frozen buffalo meat (IFBM),raw vegetables (RVs) and irrigation water (IW) were examined for the presence of T. gondii infective stages.Serum samples from housewives,regarding their gloves usage,were serologically inspected for T. gondii antibodies. The prevalence of T. gondii tissue cysts in FBM and IFBM were15.4and0%,respectively.FBMhadanincreasedriskof 18.60timesthanIFBM. The prevalence of T. gondii tissue cysts in RV and IW were 13 and 16.7%, with 0.78 times increased relative risk,respectively.The total antibodies were significantly differedbetweennongloveusersandgloveusers,withseropositivitiesof 31and10.3%, respectively. Soaking of RV in water at 65C or in vinegar solution at 45C for 1 min was an effective treatment for complete elimination of the contaminant T. gondii oocysts.