Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375900
Research Project: Detection and Control of Foodborne Parasites for Food Safety

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Public health significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in cattle: 2009-2020

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item MURATA, FERNANDO - Non ARS Employee
item CERQUEIRA-CEZAR, CAMILA - Non ARS Employee
item Kwok, Oliver
item YANG, YURONG - Henan Agricultural University

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2020
Publication Date: 12/16/2020
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Murata, F.H., Cerqueira-Cezar, C.K., Kwok, O.C., Yang, Y. 2020. Public health significance of Toxoplasma gondii infections in cattle: 2009-2020. Journal of Parasitology. 106(6):772-788. https://doi.org/10.1645/20-82.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1645/20-82

Interpretive Summary: Food safety research is of paramount importance for agriculture and the public. Foodborne protozoon infections are a leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, especially for individuals with weak immune systems such as children and HIV patients. USDA research in this area has borne undeniable results – including helping to cut the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii by as much as 50 percent in the United States. The USDA provided the veterinary, clinical, and public health communities an indispensable resource by disseminating up to date scientific information on toxoplasmosis and its prevention. Humans become infected mostly by ingesting food and water contaminated with oocysts or by eating infected under cooked meat. Viable T. gondii is more prevalent in pork and lamb than in beef. In the past decade there are flood of articles on the high seroprevalence in cattle, particularly from China and there is an acute outbreak of toxoplasmosis in humans in Brazil epidemiologically linked to ingesting cheese made from raw cow milk. Here, we review prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in cattle worldwide for the past decade. This information will support veterinarians, physicians, and federal agencies seeking to advance additional research needed in this area regarding human health.

Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii infections are common in humans and animals worldwide. The ingestion of food or water contaminated with oocysts excreted by infected cats or ingesting uncooked or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of T. gondii are the 2 major modes of transmission of T. gondii. Viable T. gondii is more prevalent in pork and lamb than in beef. In the past decade there are flood of articles on the high seroprevalence in cattle, particularly from China. Here, we review worldwide prevalence, persistence of infection, clinical disease, epidemiology, and public health risks of T. gondii infections in cattle worldwide for the past decade. This paper will be of interest to biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians and parasitologists.