Serological evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in hunted wild boar from Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Coelho, C (Author) Other; Vieira Pinto, M (Author) Other; Faria, AS (Author) Other; Vale Goncalves, H (Author) Other; Veloso, O (Author) Other; Paiva Cardoso, MD (Author) Other; Mesquita, JR (Author) FFUP; Lopes, AP (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Veterinary Parasitology

Vol. 202

Pages: 310-312

ISSN: 0304-4017

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-K6R

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.03.013

Abstract (EN): Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic zoonosis with a worldwide distribution, being the parasitic disease with the highest occurrence in Europe. Wild boar has an important role in the epidemiological cycle of Toxoplasma gondii as an intermediate host, that can potentially infect humans when the meat is consumed raw or undercooked. The purpose of this work was to determine the presence of antibodies to T. gondii in serum of hunted wild boar. During the hunting season 2011/2012, sera samples were collected from 97 wild boar and tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii, using the modified agglutination test. Twenty out of the 97 wild boar (20.6%) were seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that males and older animals were associated with T. gondii seropositivity. These results show that T. gondii has an important presence in wild boar population from Portugal, suggesting a potential zoonotic risk for humans when wild boar meat or meat products are consumed raw or undercooked.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 3