U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            ALMERIA, S - BARCELONA SPAINitem
                                            CALVETE, C - GIRONA SPAINitem
                                            PAGES, A - GIRONA SPAINitem
                                            GAUSS, C - BARCELONA SPAINitem
                                            Dubey, Jitender
  Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2004
                                    Publication  Date: 7/10/2004
                                    Citation: Almeria, S., Calvete, C., Pages, A., Gauss, C., Dubey, J.P. 2004. Factors affecting the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in wild rabbits.. Veterinary Parasitology 34:1157-1167.Interpretive Summary: Infection by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii is common in livestock and humans.  It causes abortion in livestock and mental retardation in children.  Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and University of Barcelona, Spain report toxoplasma infection in wild rabbits for the first time.  Cats can become infected by preying on rabbits and then excrete environmentally resistant oocysts in feces.  These results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and veterinarians.
                                Technical Abstract: Sera from 456 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) collected between 1992 and 2003 from 5 geographical regions of Spain were examined for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 65 (14.2%) wild rabbits. Prevalence of infection was significantly higher in samples collected from wild rabbits from Catalonia, Northeast Spain (53.8%), where rabbits lived in forest, compared to other areas (Huelva and Cádiz, Andalucía, South Spain; Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Central Spain; and  Zaragoza, Aragón, Northeast Spain) with more dry conditions, where prevalence  ranged  from 6.1% to 14.6%. No differences were observed on prevalence and age (young animals <7 months of age compared to older animals), sex, date of samples collection or season of samples collection. The results indicate that prevalence of T. gondii in some areas of Spain is high, and this finding could have environmental and/or public health implications if  wild rabbits are to be used as a source of food.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov