Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pigs From Slaughterhouses in Taiwan

Tsai, Yu-Jen; Chung, W. C.; Fei, Andrew Chang-Young; Kaphle, Krishna; Peng, Shawn; Wu, Ying-Ling

doi:10.1645/ge-923.1

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The seroprevalence rate in pigs was found to be lower than the initial report by Manuel [35], as well as the prevalence (27.2%) reported in Vietnam [47]. However, it was similar to a previous report in Metro Manila (13.6%) [48] and reports from other neighboring countries, such as Taiwan (10.1%) [49] and China (10.4%) [50]. Lower seroprevalence was reported in Indonesia and Japan at 2.3% and 5.2%, respectively [51–52].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Endemicity of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in Cebu, Philippines

et al. 2019

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Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled intracellular apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. It is capable of infecting humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals including pigs, but cats are the only known definitive host. This ubiquitous zoonotic pathogen can cause abortion, stillbirth and fetal abnormalities, and has been associated with mental and behavioral changes in humans. Acute infection is potentially fatal in immunocompromised individuals. The present study aimed to assess the Toxoplasma seroprevalence in pigs, humans and cats after its initial reported detection in pigs about three decades ago in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 924 humans, 104 cats and 514 slaughter pigs were tested for antibodies against T . gondii using a commercial latex agglutination test. The results revealed positive detection rates of 26.3% (244/924) for humans, 42.3% (44/104) for cats and 13.4% (69/514) for slaughter pigs. Statistical analyses revealed that the area (P = 0.004), cat ownership ( P = 0.020), the frequency of contact with cats ( P < 0.0001) and consumption of street foods ( P = 0.043) were significantly associated with seropositivity for T . gondii in humans. Meanwhile, the use of litter trays ( P = 0.001) and contact with other animals ( P = 0.007) were significantly associated with seropositivity in cats. The odds ratio for selected significant factors revealed that living in suburban areas (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20–2.31), owning a cat (OR 1.482, 95% CI: 1.07–2.07) and eating street foods (OR 1.585, 95% CI: 1.01–2.48) were associated with an increased risk of T . gondii exposure in humans. In cats, the use of a litter tray (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.73–11.71) was associated with an increased risk of exposure. None of the profile parameters were found to be significantly associated with seropositivity in slaughter pigs ( P > 0.05). This study is the first report of the serological detection of T . gondii in humans and cats in Cebu, Philippines, and the first assessment of the prevalence of the parasite in pigs in the area since its initial detection in 1982. This is also the first report documenting the seropositivity of T . gondii in pregnant women in the country. The confirmed seropositivity of T . gondii in Cebu, Philippines, in the present study implies the endemicity of toxoplasmosis in this area and highlights the need for routine testing and increased public awareness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Endemicity of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in Cebu, Philippines

et al. 2019

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“…Furthermore, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in this study was lower than that in Brazil (Marujo et al, 2017), Spain (Cano‐Terriza et al, 2020), or Mexico (Alvarado‐Esquivel et al, 2013), ranging from 40.5% to 53.3%, but higher than that in a Chilean zoo, reported 22.2%, using the same commercial ELISA kit (Muñoz et al, 2021). A lower T. gondii seroprevalence was also found in domestic dogs (15.5%), stray dogs (11.4%–39.1%) (Fan et al, 1998; Lin et al, 2004; Tsai et al, 2008), domestic cats (14%), stray cats (37%) (Lin et al, 1998), pigs (10.1%–28.8%) (Fan et al, 2004; Tsai et al, 2007), pigeons (4.7%) (Tsai et al, 2006), and humans (9.3%) (Chiang et al, 2012) in Taiwan, suggesting that certain captive conditions might be favourable for the circulation of T. gondii .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mammals in the Taipei Zoo

Hsu

Wang

Huang

et al. 2022

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, a member of the phylum Apicomplexa. This parasitic protozoan infects various endothermic animal species, including birds, terrestrial mammals, and aquatic mammals (Attias et al., 2020). Among endotherms, members of the family Felidae are the only definitive natural hosts for T. gondii.Their oocysts develop during sexual reproduction in the intestines of felids and are excreted in their faeces. Other animals and humans are considered intermediate hosts because only the asexual phase of this parasite can be found in these species (Dubey, 1998;Tenter et al., 2000).Any infective stage of T. gondii, including sporozoites, tachyzoites, or bradyzoites can cause toxoplasmosis in animals. Toxoplasmosis is usually an asymptomatic and self-limiting infection in immunocompetent individuals (Kim & Weiss, 2008). However, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised, congenitally infected, or highly susceptible animals, such as ring-tailed lemurs (Dubey & Jones, 2008). When transmitted vertically, T. gondii can cause stillbirths and abortions in pregnant women and livestock

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“…Since the results of LAT examination did not match the results of ELISA examination in all cases (Table 2), we categorized the species included in this study into three groups: may recommend (31), need more tests (24), and may not recommend (20) (Table 3). The species (20 species) for which the results of both assays (ELISA and LAT) were different were classified into the "may not recommend" group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the past decades, several studies have investigated Toxoplasma infection in animals in Taiwan. These studies included studies in companion animals [21][22][23], reproductive animals [14,24], wild birds [25] and Zoo animals [19,20]. Most of these studies used serological methods to investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection, except for one study that used semi-nPCR to detect Toxoplasma DNA in frozen specimens from Zoo animals [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Toxoplasma infection in zoo animals using multispecies ELISA and GRA7 nested PCR

et al. 2022

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Background Toxoplasma is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes an important zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Felids are the definitive hosts of this parasite, while virtually all warm-blooded animals, including birds, serve as intermediate hosts. Four ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in the Taipei Zoo died of acute Toxoplasma infection in June 2019. Since then, Toxoplasma has occasionally been identified in this Zoo during necropsy of dead animals and PCR of animal blood samples. Therefore, a general survey of Toxoplasma infection in animals in the Zoo seems to be needed. Methods and results An indirect multispecies ELISA was used for the first time to screen for Toxoplasma infection in 326 serum samples collected from 75 species of animals. The infection rate of Toxoplasma was 27% (88/326). A commercial latex agglutination (LAT) assay was used to re-examine the samples with doubtful and uncertain ELISA results (151 samples from 42 species). The infection rate increased to 36.2% (118/326), and the indirect multispecies ELISA appeared to be applicable to 31 of 75 species animals included in this study. Nested PCR assays targeting the dense granule protein 7 (GRA7) gene and B1 gene were also used to detect Toxoplasma in DNA samples extracted from 10 liver or blood specimens from 8 animals. GRA7 gene fragments were amplified from 8 samples from 7 animals, while B1 gene fragments were amplified from only 4 samples from 4 animals. From the B1 nested PCR and the sequence data of GRA7 fragments amplified from infectious specimens, the animals in the Zoo were speculated to have been infected by at least three different Toxoplasma variants. Conclusions According to the serological investigation, we speculated that over one-third (36.2%) of animals in Taipei Zoo presented the infection of Toxoplasma, and the indirect multispecies ELISA we used can be applied to detect Toxoplasma infection in 31 animal species included in this study. Sequence analysis revealed that at least three Toxoplasma variants were infecting the animals of Taipei Zoo.

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pigs From Slaughterhouses in Taiwan

Cited by 10 publications

References 3 publications

Endemicity of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in Cebu, Philippines

Endemicity of Toxoplasma infection and its associated risk factors in Cebu, Philippines

Molecular and serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in mammals in the Taipei Zoo

Investigation of Toxoplasma infection in zoo animals using multispecies ELISA and GRA7 nested PCR

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