Biomaterial Database

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Latvia. 2013

Gunita Deksne, and Muza Kirjušina

Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Lejupes Street 3, Riga, LV-1076 Latvia. gunita.deksne@bior.gov.lv

Consumption of undercooked pork products is considered a major risk factor for contracting toxoplasmosis in humans in several countries. In total, 803 pork samples and 606 wild boar meat samples were collected from different regions of Latvia during June 2010 and February 2011 were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using an in-house ELISA assay. Seroprevalence in wild boar (33.2%, P < 0.05) was significantly higher than in domestic pig (4.2%). The prevalence of T. gondii -specific antibodies was greater in free-ranging domestic pigs (6.2%, P < 0.05) than those that were intensively farmed (0.4%). Animals from free-range farms had 17.6 times higher odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-129.8) for the presence of specific T. gondii antibodies than animals from intensive farms. The OR (95% CI: 1.1-2.7) of feral wild boars for T. gondii -specific antibodies was 1.7 times higher than for farmed wild boars. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of T. gondii infection was higher for animals with open access to wildlife and direct contact with environment. This is the first report of T. gondii prevalence in pigs in Latvia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007844	Latvia	A country located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania. The capital is Riga.	Republic of Latvia
D008460	Meat	The edible portions of any animal used for food including cattle, swine, goats/sheep, poultry, fish, shellfish, and game.	Meats
D003964	Diaphragm	The musculofibrous partition that separates the THORACIC CAVITY from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity aiding INHALATION.	Respiratory Diaphragm,Diaphragm, Respiratory,Diaphragms,Diaphragms, Respiratory,Respiratory Diaphragms
D004797	Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay	An immunoassay utilizing an antibody labeled with an enzyme marker such as horseradish peroxidase. While either the enzyme or the antibody is bound to an immunosorbent substrate, they both retain their biologic activity; the change in enzyme activity as a result of the enzyme-antibody-antigen reaction is proportional to the concentration of the antigen and can be measured spectrophotometrically or with the naked eye. Many variations of the method have been developed.	ELISA,Assay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Assays, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays,Immunosorbent Assay, Enzyme-Linked,Immunosorbent Assays, Enzyme-Linked
D000003	Abattoirs	Places where animals are slaughtered and dressed for market.	Slaughterhouses,Slaughter House,Slaughter Houses,Abattoir,House, Slaughter,Houses, Slaughter,Slaughterhouse
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000913	Antibodies, Protozoan	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to PROTOZOAN ANTIGENS.	Protozoan Antibodies
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D013553	Swine Diseases	Diseases of domestic swine and of the wild boar of the genus Sus.	Disease, Swine,Diseases, Swine,Swine Disease
D014122	Toxoplasma	A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man.	Toxoplasma gondii,Toxoplasma gondius,Toxoplasmas,gondius, Toxoplasma