Detection of Toxoplasma gondii by PCR and mouse bioassay in commercial cuts of pork from experimentally infected pigs

The distribution of T. gondii in commercial cuts of pork (ham, tenderloin, spareribs and arm picnic) by PCR and bioassay from experimentally infected pigs, was evaluated. Eighteen mixed breed pigs were divided into two groups (G). The G1 animals (n=10) were infected with 4 x10(4) oocysts of the T. gondii VEG strain and the G2 animals (n=8) were used as control. Pigs of both groups were slaughtered at 59th day after infection, and meat samples were collected for bioassay and PCR. All animals from G1 were positive by at least one or both tests, and all control animals were negative. T. gondii was identified in pork by mouse bioassay and PCR in 27/40 (67.5%) and in 9/40 (22.5%) of the evaluated samples, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the distribution of tissue cysts from commercial cuts of pork by bioassay (P>0.05). However, statistical differences were observed when mouse bioassay and PCR were compared (P