Scientists Develop Method for Detecting Parasite Causing Toxoplasmosis in Ham
SPAIN - Scientists from the universities of Granada and Valencia have made the most comprehensive global study to date on the presence of 'Toxoplasma gondii' in cured ham.
The scientists developed a new molecular method for determining the presence of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis, in samples of ham.
This new method, published in the scientific journal Food Microbiology, involves the capture and quantificationof the parasite's DNA through magnetic particles.
The method has a sensitivity capable of detecting a cell parasite in 100 grams of ham with an efficiency of 94.6 per cent.
Similarly, scientists have determined the infectivity of the parasites detected in the samples of ham.
The impact of mycotoxins — through losses in commodity quality and livestock health — exceeds $1.4 billion in the United States alone, according to the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. This guide includes:
- An overview of different types of mycotoxins
- Understanding of the effects of mycotoxicoses in swine
- Instructions on how to analyze mycotoxin content in commodities and feeds
- Innovative ways of combatting mycotoxins and their effects
