Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in breeding pigs in Estonia

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.Peer reviewe

Toxoplasma gondii antikehade levimus veistel Eestis

In Estonia, the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii is common in humans, cats and wild boar, but no studies on the infections in cattle have been done. The aims of this nationwide cross-sectional study were to estimate the prevalence of specific anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies in cattle in Estonia, and to evaluate risk factors for the infection. Blood samples from 4020 cattle were selected from a sample bank collected in 2012-2013. Data for the risk factor evaluation were provided by Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board. The sera were screened with a commercial direct agglutination test. The cut-off for seropositivity was 1:100. The overall apparent T. gondii seroprevalence in cattle in Estonia was estimated to be 18.6%. No significant differences were evident between the seroprevalences in animals from dairy farms and animals from beef farms (17.8% and 17.0%, respectively), but the seroprevalence in animals from mixed farms was significantly higher, 36.3%. Animals from smaller herds (≤ 100 animals) and from larger herds (≥ 101 animals) had similar seroprevalences (18.9% and 18.3%, respectively). Majority of the farms had at least one positive animal, and evidence of exposure to the parasite was found in all counties. Cattle in Estonia are commonly exposed to T. gondii. Being herbivorous animals, they most likely ingest the parasite from its environmental reservoirs. After the infection, the parasite can be found in the host tissues and body fluids. Estonian undercooked beef or raw milk can thus be infection sources to other hosts, including humans.Ülemaailmse ulatusega zoonootiline parasiit Toxoplasma gondii on Eestis levinud nii inimestel, kodukassidel kui ka metssigadel, kuid uuringud veiste nakkuse kohta puuduvad. Käesoleva üleriigilise läbilõikeuuringu eesmärgiks oli hinnata spetsiifiliste T.gondii vastaste immuunglobuliin G antikehade esinemist Eesti veistel ja teha kindlaks nakatumise riskitegureid. Uuringusse kaasati 4020 veise vereproovid proovipangast, mis koguti vahemikus 2012-2013. Informatsioon riskifaktorite hindamiseks saadi Põllumajanduse Registrite ja Informatsiooni Ametist. Vereseerumit uuriti kommertsiaalse otsese aglutinatsioonitestiga, kasutades läviväärtuse lahjendust 1:100. Uuringus osalenud veiste üldine antikehade levimuse hinnang oli 18,6%. Antikehade levimus oli sarnane veistel, kes olid pärit piimafarmist ja veistel, kes olid pärit lihaveise farmist (17,8% ja 17,0%, vastavalt). Veistel, kes pärinesid segafarmist, oli antikehade levimus oluliselt kõrgem, 36,3%. Veised pärit väikesest karjast (≤ 100 looma) ja suurest karjast (≥ 101 looma) olid sarnase antikehade levimusega (18,9% ja 18,3%, vastavalt). Suuremal osal farmidest oli vähemalt üks positiivne loom ning parasiiti leiti igast maakonnast pärit veistel. Käesoleva uurimustöö põhjal võib järeldada, et Eesti veised puutuvad parasiidiga Toxoplasma sagedasti kokku. Taimetoiduliste loomadena nakatuvad veised kõige tõenäoliselt parasiidi ootsüsti vormiga neid ümbritsevast keskkonnast. Peale nakkust võib parasiiti leida nii looma kudedes kui ka kehavedelikus, mistõttu võib Eesti pooltoores veiseliha ning lehma toorpiim olla infektsiooni allikaks teistele peremeesorganismidele, sealjuures ka inimesele