Investigation of , sp., and in tissues from slaughtered beef cattle in Bahia, Brazil

, sp., and are parasites with morphological and genetic similarities. and are important abortive agents of cattle and sheep, respectively, and may infect numerous animal species. sp. is not known to induce disease in animals, but may cause confusion in the identification of closely related coccidia. The aim of this study was to investigate infection rates caused by , sp., and in beef cattle using a nested PCR for Toxoplasmatinae rDNA, followed by sequencing of the PCR products. Antibodies to and were also investigated in the tested animals. Brains and hearts were obtained from 100 beef cattle in a slaughterhouse in Bahia. Seven samples from brain tested positive for Toxoplasmatinae DNA. No positive reactions were found in heart tissues. After sequencing of the PCR products from all positive tissues, five sequences matched with and two matched with Antibodies to and were found in 20% and 26% of the animals, respectively. The confirmation of and the absence of in the tested animals is suggestive that cattle are not efficient intermediate hosts of ; however further studies need to be performed using a greater variety of tissues and a higher sample size. The detection of DNA in bovine tissues reinforces the potential risk of transmission of this parasite to humans and other animals through the consumption of bovine meat.