Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in breeding pigs in Estonia
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Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in breeding pigs in Estonia. / Santoro, Azzurra; Tagel, Maarja; Must, Kärt; Laine, Miia; Lassen, Brian; Jokelainen, Pikka.
In: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Vol. 59, 82, 12.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in breeding pigs in Estonia
AU - Santoro, Azzurra
AU - Tagel, Maarja
AU - Must, Kärt
AU - Laine, Miia
AU - Lassen, Brian
AU - Jokelainen, Pikka
PY - 2017/12
Y1 - 2017/12
N2 - Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread occurring parasite infecting warm-blooded animals, including pigs and humans. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and to evaluate risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in breeding pigs raised in Estonia. Sera from 382 pigs were tested with a commercial direct agglutination test, using a cut-off titer of 40 for seropositivity, for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies. Results: Twenty-two (5.8%) of the 382 pigs tested seropositive for T. gondii, and 6 of the 14 herds had at least one seropositive pig. The proportion of seropositive pigs within the herds ranged between 0 and 43%. Gender appeared as a significant factor, with sows having 5.6 times higher odds to be seropositive to T. gondii than boars. Seroprevalence did not increase with age. Conclusions: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were present in a substantial proportion of breeding pig herds in Estonia. On the other hand, the presence of herds without seropositive pigs illustrates that porcine T. gondii infections can be avoided even in a country where the parasite is endemic and common in several other host species.
AB - Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread occurring parasite infecting warm-blooded animals, including pigs and humans. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and to evaluate risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in breeding pigs raised in Estonia. Sera from 382 pigs were tested with a commercial direct agglutination test, using a cut-off titer of 40 for seropositivity, for the presence of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies. Results: Twenty-two (5.8%) of the 382 pigs tested seropositive for T. gondii, and 6 of the 14 herds had at least one seropositive pig. The proportion of seropositive pigs within the herds ranged between 0 and 43%. Gender appeared as a significant factor, with sows having 5.6 times higher odds to be seropositive to T. gondii than boars. Seroprevalence did not increase with age. Conclusions: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were present in a substantial proportion of breeding pig herds in Estonia. On the other hand, the presence of herds without seropositive pigs illustrates that porcine T. gondii infections can be avoided even in a country where the parasite is endemic and common in several other host species.
KW - Breeding herd
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Porcine
KW - Serology
KW - Sus scrofa domesticus
KW - Swine
KW - Toxoplasmosis
KW - Zoonosis
U2 - 10.1186/s13028-017-0349-1
DO - 10.1186/s13028-017-0349-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29228997
AN - SCOPUS:85037676576
VL - 59
JO - Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
JF - Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
SN - 0044-605X
M1 - 82
ER -
ID: 187047350