Survey of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in retail red meat samples in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Since livestock meat, has been demonstrated to be a potential source of human infection, a careful evaluation of the prevalence of infection with T. gondii in these animals’ meat is needed to protect public health. Latex agglutination test (LAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed on meat juice from 380 red meat samples (125 Beef, 135 Mutton, and 120 goats’ meat) that are sold in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq. The current results demonstrated that the overall prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies among red meat was 18.7% and 16.3% according to LAT and ELISA, respectively. The highest rate was found in October (25.8% and 22.6%) by using LAT, and ELISA, respectively. While, the lowest rate was recorded in August (12.5% and 9.4%) by both assays, respectively. Both tests performed similarly without significant difference between their performances as diagnostic tests. Moreover, no significant differences between meat types were found in terms of toxoplasmosis antibodies. In conclusion the current survey provides significant evidence about risk of human exposure to T. gondii through the consumption of raw or undercooked red meat potentially contaminated with infectious tissue cysts.