TY - JOUR
T1 - Sources and reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondii infection on 47 swine farms in Illinois
AU - Dubey, J. P.
AU - Weigel, R. M.
AU - Siegel, A. M.
AU - Thulliez, P.
AU - Kitron, U. D.
AU - Mitchell, M. A.
AU - Mannelli, A.
AU - Mateus-Pinilla, N. E.
AU - Shen, S. K.
AU - Kwok, O. C.H.
AU - Todd, K. S.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - Field studies were conducted on 47 swine farms in Illinois during 1992 and 1993 to identify sources and reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondi infection. Blood samples were obtained from swine and from trapped wildlife. Serum antibodies to T. gondii were determined using the modified agglutination test, incorporating mercaptoethanol. Antibodies to T. gondii (titer ≥ 25) were found in 97 of 4,252 (2.3%) finishing pigs, 395 of 2,617 (15.1%) sows, 267 of 391 (68.3%)cats, 126 of 188 (67.0%) raccoons, 7 of 18 (38.9%) skunks, 29 of 128 opossums (22.7%), 6 of 95 (6.3%) rats, 3 of 61 (4.9%) white-footed mice (Peromyscus sp.), and 26 of 1,243 (2.1%) house mice (Mus musculus). Brains and hearts of rodents trapped on the farm were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Toxoplasma gondii was recovered from tissues of 7 of 1,502 (0.5%) house mice, 2 of 67 (3.0%) white-footed mice, and 1 of 107 (0.9%) rats. Feces of 274 cats trapped on the farms and samples of feed, water, and soil were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 2 of 491 (0.4%) feed samples, 1 of 79 (1.3%) soil samples, and 5 of 274 (1.8%) samples of cat feces. All mammalian species examined were reservoirs of T. gondii infection. All farms had evidence of T. gondii infection either by detection of antibodies in swine or other mammalian species, or by detection of oocysts, or by recovery from rodents by bioassay. The possibility of transmission of T. gondii to swine via consumption of rodents, feed, and soil was confirmed.
AB - Field studies were conducted on 47 swine farms in Illinois during 1992 and 1993 to identify sources and reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondi infection. Blood samples were obtained from swine and from trapped wildlife. Serum antibodies to T. gondii were determined using the modified agglutination test, incorporating mercaptoethanol. Antibodies to T. gondii (titer ≥ 25) were found in 97 of 4,252 (2.3%) finishing pigs, 395 of 2,617 (15.1%) sows, 267 of 391 (68.3%)cats, 126 of 188 (67.0%) raccoons, 7 of 18 (38.9%) skunks, 29 of 128 opossums (22.7%), 6 of 95 (6.3%) rats, 3 of 61 (4.9%) white-footed mice (Peromyscus sp.), and 26 of 1,243 (2.1%) house mice (Mus musculus). Brains and hearts of rodents trapped on the farm were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii. Toxoplasma gondii was recovered from tissues of 7 of 1,502 (0.5%) house mice, 2 of 67 (3.0%) white-footed mice, and 1 of 107 (0.9%) rats. Feces of 274 cats trapped on the farms and samples of feed, water, and soil were bioassayed in mice for the presence of T. gondii oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 2 of 491 (0.4%) feed samples, 1 of 79 (1.3%) soil samples, and 5 of 274 (1.8%) samples of cat feces. All mammalian species examined were reservoirs of T. gondii infection. All farms had evidence of T. gondii infection either by detection of antibodies in swine or other mammalian species, or by detection of oocysts, or by recovery from rodents by bioassay. The possibility of transmission of T. gondii to swine via consumption of rodents, feed, and soil was confirmed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028970621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028970621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2307/3283961
DO - 10.2307/3283961
M3 - Article
C2 - 7472862
AN - SCOPUS:0028970621
SN - 0022-3395
VL - 81
SP - 723
EP - 729
JO - Journal of Parasitology
JF - Journal of Parasitology
IS - 5
ER -