Anatomical distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally and experimentally infected lambs.

Consumption of raw or undercooked meat containing Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts is one of the main sources of infection for humans worldwide. Among the various species intended for human consumption, sheep appear to be a high risk for human infection. The present study focused on the detailed anatomical distribution of Toxoplasma gondii in naturally and experimentally infected lambs using fresh and frozen samples of various pieces of meat, from a public health perspective.

Toxoplasma gondii in beef consumed in France: regional variation in seroprevalence and parasite isolation.

In France, the consumption of cattle and sheep meat appears to be a risk factor for infection of pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii. Several nation-wide surveys in France have investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and pig meat, but little is known at present about the prevalence of the parasite in beef.

New strategy for the survey of Toxoplasma gondii in meat for human consumption.

Monitoring of Toxoplasma infection in animals destined for human consumption is a great challenge for human toxoplasmosis prevention. This study aimed to compare results obtained from a naturally infected population of sheep using different tests and targeting an original matrix: meat samples and muscle fluids collected at the slaughterhouse. A commercial ELISA test was performed on diaphragm fluids from 419 ovine carcasses collected at the slaughterhouse.

Primary in vitro culture of porcine tracheal epithelial cells in an air-liquid interface as a model to study airway epithelium and Aspergillus fumigatus interactions.

Since the airway epithelium is the first tissue encountered by airborne fungal spores, specific models are needed to study this interaction. We developed such a model using primary porcine tracheal epithelial cells (PTEC) as a possible alternative to the use of primary human cells. PTEC were obtained from pigs and were cultivated in an air-liquid interface.

An innovative survey underlining the significant level of contamination by Toxoplasma gondii of ovine meat consumed in France.

Consumption of sheep meat presents a risk of human contamination by Toxoplasma gondii. A nationwide study was conducted in France to evaluate the prevalence of Toxoplasma in fresh ovine meat. A sampling procedure was established to guarantee the representativity of consumption.

Bartonella chomelii sp. nov., isolated from French domestic cattle (Bos taurus).

Two strains of bacteria isolated from the blood of French domestic cows were found to be similar to Bartonella species on the basis of phenotypic characteristics. Genotypic analysis based on sequence comparison of the 16S rRNA and citrate synthase (gltA) genes and on DNA-DNA hybridization showed that the two isolates represent a distinct and new species of Bartonella. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis inferred from comparison of 16S rRNA and gltA sequences demonstrated that the new Bartonella species is related to other ruminant-derived Bartonella species.