There are few studies on the prevalence of T. gondii in food animals is higher in pigs, sheep and goats than in cattle, and varies worldwide. Generally, the Caribbean is a net importer of meat, particularly beef and poultry however, the demand for sheep and goat meat (both referred to as mutton) is high, and any meat produced locally is consumed by the local population and occasionally by foreign tourists interested in tasting local cuisine. Small ruminants are a very important source of domestic meat production in the Caribbean. Infections of a foetus during pregnancy can result in retinochoroiditis and neurological abnormalities. Most infections are asymptomatic however, there can be severe neurological and pulmonary signs in immunosuppressed people. gondii by ingesting tissue cysts from meat, or oocysts from contaminated food or water. Although most infections in small ruminants are asymptomatic there can be abortions, foetal mummification, stillbirths and birth of weak lambs/kids. gondii, that can remain viable for the lifetime of the host. Intermediate hosts, such as livestock, are infected by ingesting contaminated water or soil and this results in the formation of tissue cysts, containing T. The definitive host, the cat, passes oocysts in its faeces that contaminate the environment where they can remain viable for long periods of time. Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. gondii infection if their infected meat is consumed undercooked.
gondii oocysts and that small ruminants could be a potentially important source of T. Our results suggest widespread environmental contamination with T.
gondii antibodies using an in house ELISA. Sera from 305 sheep and 442 goats from Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat and St. gondii exposure in small ruminants from four Caribbean island nations. gondii in the Caribbean therefore, the aim of this study was to determine T. Little is known of the epidemiology of T. In these animals, the parasite forms cysts in the tissues which may pose a risk to public health if infected meat is consumed undercooked or raw. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals including livestock.
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