Project

Determination of the degree of contamination of Toxoplasma in meat from pigs and sheep intended for human consumption

Code
160Y7809
Duration
01 December 2009 → 30 November 2011
Funding
Federal funding: various
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Animal biology
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Veterinary medicine
    • Other veterinary sciences
    • Other agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
Keywords
toxoplasma
 
Project description

Serum samples collected in project RF 06/6176, from Belgian pig and sheep farms have already been tested on a small scale with the Toxoplasma Gra7 ELISA to raise this point. The current project will cut trees sera tested so that we get an overview of the seroprevalence in Belgium. Animals (already tested from companies) will be purchased at different ages. After euthanasia, their tissue will be examined for the presence of Toxoplasma so we can check at any time infection occurs. There will be samples of muscle tissue that is usually consumed neat (pork tenderloin, hammertje) and those commonly used in preparations (intercostaalspieren). These will be stored for several days at 4 ° C so that the fabric effluent may form. In which it will be subsequently tested in a Gra7-ELISA and compared with the results obtained with bioassay, qPCR, immuno-capture PCR, target capture RT-PCR. The latter two techniques will be developed in this project. Besides these techniques live, nfectieuze parasites can show in the flesh, they give up there fast results and no animals are used more. It will also be given to the performance of the testing in terms of risk reduction. Besides fresh meat samples will be examined frozen meat.