TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in pig farms from Catalonia, north-eastern Spain
AU - García-Bocanegra, I.
AU - Dubey, J. P.
AU - Simon-Grifé, M.
AU - Cabezón, O.
AU - Casal, J.
AU - Allepuz, A.
AU - Napp, S.
AU - Almería, S.
PY - 2010/8/1
Y1 - 2010/8/1
N2 - Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs were analyzed in 1202 sera samples, including sows and pigs of three, seven, 11, 15 and 20. weeks of age, from 23 farms in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain. Antibodies were tested by the modified agglutination test (MAT) at titers. 1:25. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 228 samples (19.0%; 95% CI: 16.8-21.2). The individual prevalence in animals higher than 7. weeks of age was 22.8% (174/762; 95% CI: 16.6-29.0) and the within-farm prevalence ranged from 7.1% to 36.4%. Statistically significant differences were found among age classes. The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were the presence of cats, percentage of mortality at weaning and the presence of outdoor facilities in the farms. The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates widespread exposure to T. gondii among domestic pigs in Catalonia, which may have important implications for public health. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
AB - Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs were analyzed in 1202 sera samples, including sows and pigs of three, seven, 11, 15 and 20. weeks of age, from 23 farms in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain. Antibodies were tested by the modified agglutination test (MAT) at titers. 1:25. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 228 samples (19.0%; 95% CI: 16.8-21.2). The individual prevalence in animals higher than 7. weeks of age was 22.8% (174/762; 95% CI: 16.6-29.0) and the within-farm prevalence ranged from 7.1% to 36.4%. Statistically significant differences were found among age classes. The risk factors significantly associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were the presence of cats, percentage of mortality at weaning and the presence of outdoor facilities in the farms. The seroprevalence observed in the present study indicates widespread exposure to T. gondii among domestic pigs in Catalonia, which may have important implications for public health. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
KW - Catalonia
KW - Pig
KW - Risk factors
KW - Seroprevalence
KW - Toxoplasma gondii
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.01.017
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.01.017
M3 - Article
SN - 0034-5288
VL - 89
SP - 85
EP - 87
JO - Research in Veterinary Science
JF - Research in Veterinary Science
ER -
