Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in shellfish and fish in parts of China

Abstract

In this study, a total of 3432 aquatic animals covering eight species were tested by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, in China. The results showed that, out of 618 Procambarus clarkii samples collected from the different areas in southeast China, four samples from Jiangxi province were positive. Of 456 Hypophthalmichthys molitrix samples, one sample from Jiangsu province was positive. In addition, there was only one positive sample collected from Shandong province out of 813 Macrobranchium nipponense samples. All other samples, including 309 Cyprinus carpio, 398 Concha Ostreae, 98 Momopterus albus, 426 Penaeus monodon Fabricius and 309 Carassius auratus were negative. The results suggested that the level of T. gondii in aquatic animals was low in China. However, the importance of T. gondii in aquatic animals should not be ignored. Consumption of contaminated raw shellfish may represent a considerable health threat.

Keywords: Aquatic animals; China; PCR; Toxoplasma gondii.