Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 65 (2), 167-170, 2012

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Hisako Kyan1,2*, Masakatsu Taira1, Asaka Yamamoto1, Chie Inaba1, and Satoshi Zakimi3

1Department of Biological Sciences Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Okinawa 901-1202; 2Okinawa Prefectural Meat Inspection office, Okinawa 905-0015; and 3Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Animal Health, Okinawa 900-0024, Japan

(Received October 17, 2011. Accepted December 16, 2011)


*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Biological Sciences Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjyo, Okinawa 901-1202, Japan. Tel: +81-98-945-0785, Fax: +81-98-945-9366, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


SUMMARY: Toxoplasma gondii genotypes were isolated and characterized from cephalic muscle samples collected from 24 goats slaughtered at an abattoir in Okinawa between 2008 and 2009. Of the 24 samples assayed using latex agglutination, 18 were seropositive, 2 were pseudo-positive, and 4 were seronegative against T. gondii antibodies. The samples were then inoculated into laboratory mice to isolate the parasite. Among the isolated samples, 13 (72.2% of the 18 seropositive strains in the latex agglutination assay) were seropositive, 1 (50%) was pseudo-positive, and none were seronegative. However, after being frozen and stored at −20ºC, all samples were found to be T. gondii-free. Of the 14 isolates of the GRA6 genotype, 6 were of type I, 7 were of type II, and 1 was of type III; the genotype distribution ratio was similar to that of T. gondii strains isolated from locally raised pigs. Moreover, no sulfonamid-tolerant dhps gene mutant of T. gondii was detected.

Copyright 1998 National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan