Effect of domestic freezing on the viability of Toxoplasma Gondii in raw and dry-cured ham from experimentally infected pigs

Gracia, María J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lázaro, Regina (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Pérez-Arquillue, Consuelo ; Bayarri, Susana (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis, which is an important foodborne zoonosis. Eating undercooked meat of infected animals has been considered the major transmission route of T. gondii to humans. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of domestic freezing for inactivation of T. gondii bradyzoites in ham. Raw and dry-cured ham from a pig experimentally inoculated orally with 4,000 oocysts of T. gondii VEG strain was subjected to domestic freezing at −20°C for up to 14 days. The effect was evaluated by bioassay in mice and a quantitative PCR assay. In raw and dry-cured ham, −20°C for 7 and 14 days, respectively, did not inactivate T. gondii. More studies are needed to find the correct temperature and time needed to render the bradyzoites noninfectious for humans. Meanwhile, the recommendations for freezing to inactivate T. gondii in raw or dry-cured meats must be revisited because domestic freezing conditions do not reduce the risk of infection.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.4315/JFP-21-281

Año: 2022

Publicado en: JOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION 85, 4 (2022), 626-631
ISSN: 0362-028X

Factor impacto JCR: 2.0 (2022)

Categ. JCR: FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 104 / 142 = 0.732 (2022) - Q3 - T3
Categ. JCR: BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY rank: 124 / 158 = 0.785 (2022) - Q4 - T3

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 4.2 - Immunology and Microbiology (Q3) - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.47 - Food Science (Q2) - Microbiology (Q3)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A06-20R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/INIA/RTA2014-00024-C04-02

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Nutrición Bromatología (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)
Área (Departamento): Área Sanidad Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)