Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #32622
Title: SOURCES AND RESERVOIRS OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION ON 47 SWINE FARMS IN ILLINOIS

Author
item DUBEY JITDENDER - 1265-40-00
item WEIGEL R M - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item SIEGEL A M - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item THULLIEZ P - INST DE PUERICULTURE, FR
item KITRON U D - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item MITCHELL M A - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item MANNELLI A M - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item MATEUS-PINILLA N - COL VET MED, UNIV IL
item TODD K S - COL VET MED, UNIV IL

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Infection by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is widespread in livestock and humans in the U.S. The ingestion of pork infected with Toxoplasma parasites is considered to be one of the main source of infection. In order to develop control strategies to reduce or eliminate T. gondii in the nation's swine herds it is imperative to obtain information on the reservoirs of infection and the modes of transmission of T. gondii to swine. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the University of Illinois have identified the presence of Toxoplasma infected cats and infected rodents as the main reservoirs of infection for T. gondii infection for pigs on 47 Illinois farms. This information will be useful to pig producers, public health specialists and to veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Field studies were conducted on 47 swine farms in Illinois during 1992 and 1993 to identify sources and reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Blood samples were obtained from swine and from trapped wildlife. Serum antibodies to T. gondii were determined using the modified agglutination test. Antibodies to T. gondii (titer greater than or equal to 25) were found in 97 of 4,252 (2.3%) finishing pigs, 395 of 2,617 (15.1%) sows, 267 of 391 (68.3%) cats, 126 of 188 (67.0%) raccoons, 7 of 18 (38.9%) skunks, 29 of 128 opossums (22.7%), 6 of 95 (6.3%) rats, 3 of 61 (4.9%) white-footed mice (Peromyscus sp.), and 26 of 1,243 (2.1%) house mice (Mus musculus). Brains and hearts of rodents trapped on the farm were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Toxoplasma gondii was recovered from tissues of 7 of 1,502 (0.5%) house mice, 2 of 67 (3.0) white-footed mice and 1 of 107 (0.9%) rats. Feces of 274 cats trapped on the farms and samples of feed, water, and soil were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 2 of 491 (0.4%) feed samples, 1 of 79 (1.3%) soil samples, and 5 of 274 (1.8%) samples of cat feces.