Cross-Sectional Serosurvey and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Pigs in Greece

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Vasileios G PapatsirosSofia Boutsini

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide reported zoonotic infection caused by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii. Pigs may become infected by ingesting feed or water contaminated with cat faeces, by cannibalism, and/or by eating infected rodents. T. gondii infected edible tissues of pigs are a source of infection for humans. This study was undertaken to detect seropositivity of pigs against T. gondii and identify possible risk factors as well as to compare two serological methods. A total of 609 blood samples were collected from 10% of the sows from 65 pig farms located in mainland Greece. Information about the geographical location, size, and biosecurity level of the herd was recorded. Samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii employing the indirect fluorescent antibody test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty-six positive samples were detected (4.3%) in 17 out of the 65 farms tested (26.2%). The average seroprevalence in affected herds was 26.8% (95% confidence interval 21.0-32.6%). Among the categorical data evaluated, the biosecurity level (odds ratio 0.17, p < 0.01) and the geographical characteristics (odds ratio 13.55, p < 0.05) significantly affected the presence of toxoplasmosis in the herd. ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 2, 2017·Foodborne Pathogens and Disease·Alberto De BerardinisAlberto Vergara
Mar 15, 2018·Parasitology Research·Alba Pablos-TanarroIgnacio Ferre
Feb 12, 2017·Foodborne Pathogens and Disease·Georgina LimonJavier Guitian
Jul 15, 2020·The Journal of Parasitology·Ana Isabel Cubas-AtienzarJudith Elisabeth Smith
Dec 4, 2020·Veterinary Parasitology·Jitender P DubeyChunlei Su
Jul 28, 2021·Parasitology Research·Julio César Castillo-CuencaIgnacio García-Bocanegra
Sep 8, 2021·Foodborne Pathogens and Disease·Vasileios G PapatsirosCharalambos Billinis

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ELISA
Enzyme-Linked

Software Mentioned

Graph Pad Prism
SPSS

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