Author
|
Submitted to: American Society of Parasitologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/1994 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Among the food animals, pigs are considered as the most important meat source of Toxoplasma gondii infections for humans. In a national survey of 11,842 commercial pigs killed in 1983-1984 throughout the U.S., T. gondii antibodies (> 1:25) were found in 23.9% by modified agglutination test (MAT). Prevalence of antibodies was higher in sows (42%) than in market pigs (23%). There were no regional differences in seroprevalence in pigs. Viable T. gondii was recovered from 17% of 1,000 sows from Iowa killed between 1989 and 1992; 22.2% of these 1,00 sows had MAT antibodies (> 1:25). In surveys conducted in 1992 in Illinois, 20.8% of 5,080 sows had 3.1% of 1,885 market pigs had T. gondii antibodies by the MAT suggesting a declining seroprevalence compared with the prevalence a decade earlier. Studies are underway on 48 swine farms in Illinois to assess risk factors associated with acquisition of T. gondii infections in pigs under different management practices to provide data for planning strategies to reduce T. gondii infection in swine herds throughout the U.S. |
