Research article

MOLECULAR STUDY OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION IN GOATS AT BASRAH PROVINCE.

Sahar Mohammed Ali Al-Mothafer and Abdul Hussein Habash Awad

Online First: October 26, 2022


Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitic infections of humans and pets. In this study, the parasite was isolated from chopped diaphragm muscles from naturally infected goats in Basrah Province. 45 meat samples were collected from local goats during the period from October 2020 to March 2021. The samples were examined microscopically and (36) positive samples containing the parasite were recorded with percentage infection (80%). The current study included a genetic detection of T. gondii in the above animals to find out the infection rate and spread of the parasite in local goats meat. Polymerase chain reaction technique using specific primers was used for genetic detection of the parasite in goats. The PCR-positive samples recorded an infection rate of (34.8%). The sequence of the nitrogenous bases of the DNA of the parasite were studied together with the reading of the genetic tree of these samples. The reading of phylogenic tree matched with the main branch tree that carries the sequence MZ717192.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondii, Molecular study, Goats, Basrah