U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Resources
                        Our ScientistsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            GUO, MIAO - University Of Marylanditem
                                            MISHRA, ABHINAV - University Of Marylanditem
                                            BUCHANAN, ROBERT - University Of Marylanditem
                                            Dubey, Jitenderitem
                                            Hill, Doloresitem
                                            GAMBLE, H. RAY - National Academy Of Sciences - United Statesitem
                                            JONES, JEFFREY - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United Statesitem
                                            PRADHAN, ABANI - University Of Maryland
  Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection Proceedings
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2016
                                    Publication  Date: 7/1/2016
                                    Citation: Guo, M., Mishra, A., Buchanan, R.L., Dubey, J.P., Hill, D.E., Gamble, H., Jones, J.L., Pradhan, A.K. 2016. Quantifying the risk of human Toxoplasma gondii infection due to consumption of domestically-produced lamb in the United States. International Association for Food Protection Proceedings. 79:1181-1187.Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasmosis caused by a single celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii and continues to be a worldwide public health problem. Human toxoplasmosis accounts for an estimated one-fifth of all diagnosed foodborne infections in the United States, and one fifth of the economic costs attributable to any foodborne pathogen. Pregnant women and their fetuses are exposed to elevated health risks. The goal of this study was to develop a farm-to-table quantitative microbial risk assessment model to predict the public health risk associated with consumption of fresh lamb in the United States.  In the context of available data, sensitivity analysis suggested that cooking is the most important parameter impacting human health risk. This study provides a scientific basis for risk management and also could serve as a baseline model to quantify infection risk from T. gondii and other parasites associated with meat products. These results will be useful for veterinarians, parasitologists, immunologists, and epidemiologists interested in understanding transmission risks attributable to consumption of undercooked lamb for toxoplasmosis.
                                Technical Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent protozoan parasite worldwide. Human toxoplasmosis is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Meat products have been identified as an important source of T. gondii infections in humans. The goal of this study was to develop a farm-to-table quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to predict the public health burden in the United States associated with consumption of U.S. domestically-produced lamb. Following the baseline model for fresh pork that we developed previously, the present risk model was divided into five modules. T. gondii prevalence in market lambs was pooled from the 2011 National Animal Health monitoring system (NAHMS) survey, and the concentration of the infectious life stage (bradyzoites) was calculated in the current model. Similar to the baseline model, a log-linear regression and an exponential dose-response model was used to model the reduction of T. gondii during home cooking and to predict the probability of infection, respectively. The mean probability of infection per serving of lamb was estimated to be 1.5 cases per 100,000 servings, corresponding to approximately 6,300 new infections per year in the U.S. population. Based on the sensitivity analysis, cooking was identified as the most effective method to influence human health risk. This study provides a QMRA framework for T. gondii infection through consumption of lamb, and quantified the infection risk and public health burden associated with lamb meat consumption.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov