Seasonal and Age Distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in Milk of Naturally Infected Animal Species and Dairy Samples

Abstract

PRIMARY infection by Toxoplasma gondii is habitually food borne and ingestion of foods with animal origins is measured as a risk factor. The current survey was performed to assess the seasonal and age distribution of T. gondii in diverse kinds of raw milk and traditional dairy products. Three-hundred and seventy raw milk and traditional dairy samples were collected and subjected to DNA extraction. B1 specific gene of T. gondii was perceived by means of the molecular technique. Eighteen out of 370 (4.86%) studied samples were positive for T. gondii. Molecular incidence of T. gondii in raw milk was 6.08%. T. gondii was also perceived in 2.85% of studied traditional dairy samples, respectively. Sheep milk (10%) and cheese (6.66%) had the uppermost molecular incidence of parasite. Molecular incidence of T. gondii in raw camel milk and cream and butter samples were 3.33%, 5% and 5%, respectively. Samples which were collected through autumn (15.55%) and summer (9.37%) seasons had the maximum molecular incidence of T. gondii. Raw milk samples of older than 4 years animal species (11.39%) had the maximum molecular incidence of T. gondii. The existingsurvey is the first report of seasonal and age distribution of T. gondii in diverse kinds of dairy samples. Raw sheep, goat, buffalo, bovine and camel milk and also traditional cheese, cream and butter dairy samples may harbor T. gondii infection. Seasonal and senile distribution should be measured for molecular incidence of T. gondii in milk of primary infected animals and also traditional dairy products.