Global Veterinaria 11 (6): 789-793, 2013 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.11.6.82138 Corresponding Author: Rismayani Saridewi, Lampung Veterinary Center (Balai Veteriner Lampung), Jalan Untung Suropati No.2 Labuhan Ratu, Kedaton, Bandar Lampung, Lampung-Indonesia. 789 Survival of Toxoplasma gondii in Goat Milk after Pasteurization with Low Temperature and Long Time Rismayani Saridewi, Denny Widaya Lukman, Mirnawati Sudarwanto, 1,2 1 1 Umi Cahyanigsih and Didik Tulus Subekti 1 3 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agriculture University, 1 Jalan Agatis, Darmaga, Bogor, West Java, Bogor-Indonesia Lampung Veterinary Center (Balai Veteriner Lampung), Jalan Untung Suropati 2 No.2 Labuhan Ratu, Kedaton, Bandar Lampung, Lampung-Indonesia Indonesia Research Center for Veterinary Science, 3 Jalan Martadinata, Bogor, West Java, Bogor-Indonesia Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine survival of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite RH strain in goat milk after being pasteurized in low temperature for along time. In this study vivo trial was done, i.e., using mice that were infected with a Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite intraperitoneally in a dose of 2.76x10 . 6 The infected mice were divided into 3 groups; (1) pasteurized milk and tachyzoite heated at a temperature of 63°C for 30 minutes (T), (2) pasteurized milk and tachyzoite without being heated as a positive control (PC) and (3) pasteurized milk without tachyzoite as a negative control (NC). The results showed that tachyzoites did not detect in the peritoneal fluid in group T and NC. However, T.gondii tachyzoites were detected in group PC whose amount was nearly equal to the amount before and after the mice infection. Key words: Pasteurization Goat milk Toxoplasma gondii INTRODUCTION T.gondii tachyzoites have been found in the milk of Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular transmission by unpasteurized or inadequately processed apicomplexan parasite protozoan, is widely distributed milk or fresh cheese, important food sources in rural areas, and can infect many species of warm-blooded animals; can be a significant means of contamination by this agent thus, it is considered as significant zoonotic pathogen [1]. [11]. Toxoplasmosis in sheep is a parasitic disease of great Pasteurizationis a processing method by heating importance for veterinary medicine, husbandry and public below the boiling point for extending the shelf life of fresh health since it causes productive and economic losses, as milk. There are 2 ways of pasteurizing milk, namely, low well as damage to human health due to consumption of temperature long time (LTLT) at low temperature of 62.8 contaminated meat and milk, which can facilitate zoonotic °C for 30 minutes and at high temperature short time transmission [2]. This disease is of major economic (HTST) at a temperature of 71.7 °C for 15 seconds [12, 13]. importance in raising livestock since it is a frequent cause There have been no research reports on the living ability of early embryonic death and resorption, fetal death and of tachyzoite inpasteurized milk, as Dubey [14] only found mummification, abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death in T.gondii DNA in the milk through a polymerase chain sheep [3, 4]. reaction test (PCR). The examination of tachyzoite in milk Clinical toxoplasmosis in humans has been was conducted by PCR through the DNA detection and associated with consumption of unpasteurized goat milk the tachyzoite contained in milk was unknown whether it [5-8]. However, it must be emphasized that any type of was alive or dead. Based on the description above, this milk, especially raw, is a potential source of infection [9]. study was conducted to determine whether tachyzoite several intermediate hosts [10]. Toxoplasmosis