Rapid method to detect viable Toxoplasma gondii cells in meat products.

T. gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite responsible for the zoonotic disease Toxoplasmosis. T. gondii is especially relevant in non-cocked meat products which are one of the main sources of infection for humans. In Europe, more than 50% of pigs and sheep slaughtered in slaughterhouses bear T. gondii. Verifying the presence of the viable parasite in meat from slaughter animals is of special interest in public health.

Current technologies to detect the presence of parasite such as PCR and immunodetection has the limitations of not being able to detect viable forms of the parasite. The gold standard methodology to detect viable forms of the parasite is by using animal testing. To do so, the meat is processed with a proteolytic method, parasites are obtained and then injected into mice. Then, brains and spleens of the injected animals are searched for the presence of the parasite. This methodology is extremely accurate but very expensive and time consuming. In addition, it needs to be done by well trained and specialized personnel in an animal facility.

Our technology allows the specific detection of viable T. gondii cells by using a molecular method, avoiding the need of animal testing. Once the meat is enzymatically treated, target molecules from viable parasites are extracted and processed using molecular techniques.  The answer if the meat sample contains the infective parasite or not is revealed in an easy-to-use lateral flow system (Figure 1**: Lateral Flow strips indicating a T. gondii negative sample (lane A) and a positive one (lane B))**

Our technology is easy, fast and convenient and can be done in a conventional laboratory without the need of specialized personnel or expensive devices.