Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections in swine of non-tecnified rearing farms of the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil and associated risk factors

Oliveira, G. C.; Almeida, Henrique Meiroz de Souza; Sartori, Raissa Saran; Rossi, Gabriel Augusto Marques; Oliveira, Luís Guilherme de; Langoni, Hélio

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2018.e00080

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to report on the circulation of T. gondii in pigs in this area. These data are of public health relevance, because pigs act as reservoirs for this protozoan and consumption of pig meat under these conditions represents a risk to human health, as already shown in previous studies (Dubey, 2009;Vergara et al, 2018;Miura et al, 2019;Oliveira et al, 2018;Santos et al, 2019). In addition, investigations on occurrences of T. gondii in pigs form an important step within surveillance and control of foodborne toxoplasmosis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

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High level of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered in the city of São Luís, Maranhão

Silva

Sousa

Carvalho

et al. 2021

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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A serological, molecular and histopathological study was carried out in order to investigate occurrences of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered with and without inspection service. Serum samples were collected from 60 pigs to detect anti-T. gondii antibody by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFAT). Tongue, masseter and diaphragm fragments were also collected for parasite DNA detection by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histopathological analysis. The serological results showed that 77% (44/60) of the pigs were positive. Regarding PCR, 66.67% (40/60) were positive for T. gondii. Among the tissues evaluated, the diaphragm was the one with the highest frequency of positivity (40%; 24/60), followed by the masseter (38.33%; 23/60) and tongue (33.3%; 20/60). Histopathological changes were only observed in the diaphragm, which presented inflammatory infiltrates of lymphohistiocytic and neutrophilic types. These results not only show the potential threat of T. gondii to human health, but also demonstrate the dynamic epidemiological situation of toxoplasmosis in pigs in the city of São Luís, providing support for food security regarding pigs and for T. gondii control programs in Brazil.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…The estimated global prevalence of infection by this important foodborne pathogen is 30% (Haq et al, 2016). In Brazil, serological studies on pigs have shown varying prevalences, with widespread distribution throughout the country, ranging from 1.32% to 90.4% (Cavalcante et al, 2006;Azevedo et al, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High level of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered in the city of São Luís, Maranhão

Silva

Sousa

Carvalho

et al. 2021

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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“…Argentina is known as a meat consumer country, specially from bovine animals (Gallup, 2005). To notice, the consumption of porcine and ovine meat has increased in recent times, which are known as possible sources of T. gondii infection (Oliveira et al., 2018) (Dubey, 2009). Therefore, we investigated different meat types as potential risk factor.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity associated to peri-urban living places in pregnant women in a rural area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Rivera

Lavayén

Sánchez³

et al. 2019

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

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Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is very common in humans throughout the world, the intake of raw or undercooked meat with tissue cysts and fruits, vegetables and water contaminated with parasite oocysts being the main routes of infection. Here, we analyzed the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in pregnant females (age 13–44 years; n = 920) between April 2014 and December 2017 from Chascomús (Argentina), a city immersed in a rural area. Altogether 320 tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies, yielding an overall seroprevalence of 34.8% (CI 95%: 31.7–37.9). No association was observed between seropositivity and age. In addition, by using the QGIS 3.2.1 software we analyzed the geographical distribution of 769 (83.6%) pregnant females in two main areas of the city: Urban (n = 157) and Peri-urban (n = 612) with a seroprevalence of 26.8% (CI 95%: 19.8–33.7) and 36.4% (CI 95%: 32.6–40.3) respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.023). Furthermore, we assessed through a questionnaire survey, between April 2016 to December 2017, possible risk factors such as activity (urban and rural), home water supply, animal husbandry, presence of cats as pets, gardening and consumption of meat and its derivatives (pork, sheep meat and sausages) and their frequencies (consumption per week), not finding significant association with seropositivity. Significant differences was found when the seroprevalence was analyzed between the urban and peri-urban neighborhoods of the city of Chascomús. The higher seroprevalence in peri-urban neighborhoods could be due to an unfavorable socioeconomic situation and/or to undeveloped peri-urban environments, which is a risk factor that should be taken into account when planning the health care of pregnant females.

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“…Sows, pigs from farms with low hygiene standards, and pigs from organic farms, were more likely to have high antibody titers (≥ 1600) than those in other groups; this may indicate the presence of an acute infection [ 74 , 75 ]. Animals with high antibody titers are more likely to present living parasites (tachyzoites) in the blood on analysis, thus indicating the presence of parasitemia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its duration in pigs has not been determined [ 42 ]. Low titers may indicate chronic infection [ 75 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Polish pigs from organic farms, other housing systems and in pigs of different age groups

et al. 2022

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Background The consumption of raw or undercooked meat, especially pork, and offal containing infective tissue cysts is suspected to be a significant route of infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Although the use of “animal-friendly pig production systems” ensuring direct contact with the natural environment offers ethical benefits, it limits the ability to ensure animal health; it may also increase the probability of infections by pathogens such as T. gondii, and thus their entry into the food chain. This study determines the seroprevalence of T. gondii in pigs from different housing systems and farms with different hygiene standards in Poland, as well as among pigs of different age groups from farms with high hygiene standards. In total 760 pig serum samples were examined for the presence of specific antibodies using the PrioCHECK® Toxoplasma Ab porcine commercial ELISA test (Prionics, Switzerland). Results Test results with PP ≥ 20% were regarded as positive, as indicated by the manufacturer. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 193 of 760 (25.4%) tested sera. Regarding different housing systems, antibodies were found in 117 pigs: of these, 52.6% (61/116) were from organic farms, 40.9% (47/115) from farms with low hygiene standards, 5.4% (9/167) from farms with high hygiene standards and 0% (0/40) from a farm with a high level of biosecurity. Regarding age groups, antibodies were found in 76 animals on farms with high hygiene standards: 11.1% (7/63) were pigs younger than 3 months, 0% (0/60) aged 3–4 months, 12.3% (7/57) aged 5–6 months (final fattening stage) and 43.7% (62/142) were sows aged 9 months and older. Conclusions Antibodies to T. gondii were most often found in pigs from organic and low-hygiene farms, as well as in pigs aged 9 months and older. Meat derived from seropositive animals can pose a potential source of infection for humans. As maternal antibodies to T. gondii can be present in the blood of piglets aged up to 3–4 months, serological examination is unjustified in piglets up to this age.

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Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections in swine of non-tecnified rearing farms of the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil and associated risk factors

Cited by 5 publications

References 23 publications

High level of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered in the city of São Luís, Maranhão

High level of infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pigs slaughtered in the city of São Luís, Maranhão

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity associated to peri-urban living places in pregnant women in a rural area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina

A serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Polish pigs from organic farms, other housing systems and in pigs of different age groups

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