ABSTRACT
Antibodies to T. gondii have been found in cattle in many surveys worldwide. Prevalence varied from very low to very high using the same test or different serological tests. Many of the serological surveys are from Brazil and China. Prevalence varied tremendously, and the true prevalence is difficult to evaluate. In China, great variability in seroprevalences of T. gondii in cattle was reported. A comprehensive survey for viable parasites and DNA was conducted in a collaborative study from scientists in 4 countries in Europe. T. gondii was inconsistently detected in tissues of 6 calves (6-week-old) orally inoculated with 1 million oocysts. T. gondii was detected in semen, blood, and tissues of steers inoculated with T. gondii. The role of beef as a risk factor has been debated for more than 5 decades. A quantitative microbial risk assessment study of meatborne T. gondii infection identified beef as the most important source of T. gondii infection for pregnant women in the Netherlands.
