A Review of Toxoplasma gondii in Animals in Greece: A FoodBorne Pathogen of Public Health Importance

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoon with a complex life cycle and the second most important foodborne pathogen in Europe. Surveillance of toxoplasmosis is based on national considerations since there are no mandatory controls along the food chain in the European Union, and underreporting of meat is still a problem in many countries like Greece. The current review provides an overview of T. gondii prevalence, associated risk factors, and surveillance in animals in Greece, focusing on the transmission role of meat and highlighting the control measures that should be adopted by consumers. Sows, wild boars, hares, equines, and cats had lower, while sheep and goats generally had higher seroprevalence than their respective pooled European and global values. Seroprevalence in chickens was similar between Greece and Europe, while there was high variation in cattle studies, with no data regarding dairy products. Though a comprehensive meat safety assurance system is the most effective approach to control the principal biological hazards associated with meat, such as T. gondii, the prerequisite risk categorisation of farms and abattoirs based on EFSA’s proposed harmonised epidemiological indicators has not materialised as yet in Greece. Therefore, comprehensive control strategies are still required to ensure food safety and safeguard public health.

Wildlife and parasitic infections: A One Health perspective in Greece

“…Studies conducted in other countries have demonstrated that this species can harbour zoonotic parasites such as Trichinella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Babesia spp., and T. gondii ( Di Salvo and Chomel, 2020 ). These parasite species have been identified in different animal species and even in the human population in Greece ( Giadinis et al, 2015 ; Angelou et al, 2019 ; Papatsiros et al, 2020 ; Symeonidou et al, 2023 ). Despite the lack of studies investigating their presence in brown bears in Greece, future research should prioritise this aspect.…”